ORLANDO, Fla. – During an anti-ICE demonstration outside ICE’s Orlando office, law enforcement officials detained a protester, raising tensions Friday afternoon.
Two other protesters shared videos with News 6 that showed the moments leading up to and during the detainment.
In one video, the protester, whose face is concealed by a motorcycle helmet, can be heard saying, “You want to f***ing hit me?” Moments later, law enforcement agents move in closer and bring the person to the ground.
Several law enforcement agents surrounded the protester were wearing vests that read “SHERIFF” on the back.
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News 6 reached out to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office about the incident. A spokesperson responded in an email that they would look into the matter.
At least two other protesters told News 6 the individual who was detained had used their hand to hit a law enforcement vehicle, sparking the detainment.
More than a dozen Florida Highway Patrol vehicles then flooded the area.
It is unclear if the person, who was escorted in handcuffs inside the ICE office, will be charged.
The protest remained peaceful Friday, but the incident appeared to animate the rest of the protesters, who began mocking law enforcement agents on ICE property.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina issued this statement Friday:
“At the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, our top priority is the safety and security of our residents and visitors, and the safety of our deputies.
“Earlier today, during what was almost an exclusively peaceful protest at the ICE facility, a woman approached a federal agent who was in a car and struck the law enforcement vehicle. That person, a woman in her 20s or 30s, was arrested on charges of Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting Arrest.
“The right of all people to peacefully assemble or protest is fundamental, and a cornerstone of every American’s First Amendment right to free speech. What is not protected, however, is the destruction of property or violence against any member of our community. Any attempt to assault, stop, block, or otherwise hinder any law enforcement officers from doing their jobs will not be tolerated. I want to assure everyone in our community that our deputies will always respond to ensure the safety of those who are exercising their rights peacefully.”
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