Los Angeles police Wednesday were investigating a vehicle collision that involved federal agents who fired less-lethal or pepper ball rounds at a white car that was cornered by two vehicles in Boyle Heights before a man inside was taken into custody and whisked from the scene.
The incident was reported at 10:47 a.m. in the 3700 block of Whittier Boulevard, near Calzona Street, according to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman.
A statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security dismissed any notion that what took place was a hit-and-run involving federal agents, as some initial reports suggested.
“This was a targeted arrest of a violent rioter who punched a (Customs and Border Patrol) officer,” the statement reads. “When Homeland Security Investigations tried to arrest Christian Damian Cerno-Camacho for the assault, he attempted to flee. He was ultimately arrested and taken into custody.”
Video from the scene showed an SUV hitting the passenger side of a white Mercedes-Benz while a pickup truck hits and blocks the front left of the car, pinning it in place.
With the car immobilized, people wearing bulletproof vests emerged from both vehicles pointing weapons at the Mercedes, and seconds later, at least one of them fires some sort of less-than-lethal rounds at the car.
The driver of the Mercedes quickly emerges from the car with his hands in the air, and he is seen being taken into custody. The man was placed in one of the other vehicles and driven away, while one of the possible agents pulls the Mercedes to the side of the road, before also driving away from the scene, according to a broadcast report.
A woman with a child in her arms subsequently emerged from the white Mercedes and is seen interacting with the unidentified agents.
A witness told KTLA5 there were two children in the car, and some type of canister, possibly a tear gas canister, was left behind in the street.
“Our officers are facing a 413% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murders, rapists, and gang members,” according to the DHS statement. “Secretary (Kristi) Noem’s message to the LA rioters is clear: You will not stop us or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
An LAPD spokesman referred questions about the incident to the DHS.