A Colorado prosecutor announced on Wednesday that a federal immigration officer has been formally charged with third-degree assault and criminal mischief. This development follows a thorough investigation into the officer's treatment of a protester, who was allegedly placed in a chokehold during a demonstration outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.
Video Evidence and Allegations
Multiple videos from the incident show a masked federal agent, identified as Nicholas Rice, placing Franci Stagi in what she described as a chokehold. The footage captures the officer pulling Stagi across the street during the altercation. Stagi, a retired hypnotherapist, reported that the agent violently snatched her phone and assaulted her when she attempted to retrieve it.
Details of the Altercation
According to Stagi's account, the confrontation began as she filmed the officer moving camping gear near the gated entryway of the ICE building in Durango, Colorado. She stated that the agent struck her hand hard, either taking her phone or causing her to drop it. When she touched his shoulder to get his attention, he allegedly grabbed her by the hair, placed her neck in the crook of his arm, and carried her across the street by her head before throwing her down an embankment.
Context of the Protests
The protests occurred in late October, sparked by the detention of three Colombian asylum-seekers—a man and two children—while they were on their way to and from school on October 27. Demonstrators gathered outside the ICE facility in Durango, a college town and popular destination for outdoor recreation in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.
Investigative Actions
U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that the officer was under investigation following the incident. Additionally, the Colorado Bureau of Investigations launched its own probe at the request of Durango Police Department Chief Brice Current. Chief Current raised concerns about potential violations of state law, marking an unusual if not unprecedented request for such an investigation.
Legal and Official Responses
Court documents related to the charges did not list any attorney as representing Officer Nicholas Rice at the time of the announcement. A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection acknowledged a request for comment but did not immediately respond to questions about the specific charges or the ongoing investigation.
The case highlights tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and protest rights in Colorado, with legal proceedings expected to unfold as authorities continue to examine the evidence and testimonies from the incident.
