A man from New Jersey named Brendan John Geier, 26, was arrested for allegedly biting two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a protest outside a Newark detention facility.
The arrest took place on Thursday, and Geier was charged with assaulting federal officers and causing bodily injury. This information comes from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The incident occurred outside Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, where protests against ICE have been happening for over a week. There have been accusations that some demonstrators assaulted federal agents.
“Peaceful protest doesn’t translate to violently attacking federal law enforcement officers,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in a statement.
Blanche emphasized the role of federal officers in protecting property and facilities in the United States. He mentioned that there had been minimal local law enforcement support in Newark, causing rioters to regroup and attack once more.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the demonstrations, and Blanche noted that more arrests might occur as a consequence. He stated that they will not tolerate such attacks in Newark and will hold people accountable for criminal actions.
Nine individuals faced arrest during Thursday’s confrontations, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to Fox News Digital. During these incidents, clashes involved federal agents deploying pepper spray and crowd-control measures.
“As alleged in the Justice Department’s complaint, this violent rioter savagely bit an ICE law enforcement officer outside of Delaney Hall,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
The DOJ reported that the incident happened around 10:30 a.m., during a perimeter security operation at the Newark site. Protestors blocked the roadway leading to the detention center. This prompted deportation officers to form a line and advance toward the crowd, which included Geier.
Despite repeated commands to clear the roadway, demonstrators, including Geier, did not comply. Prosecutors noted that Geier engaged in a struggle with the officers, kicking them and biting another officer’s forearm and another officer’s knuckle.
The bitten officers received treatment at a local hospital. Shortly before the announcement of Geier’s arrest, Blanche stated that another individual was also arrested for making death threats against an ICE officer and the officer’s family.