Local, federal law enforcement presence in St. Paul draws crowd of protesters

Local, federal law enforcement presence in St. Paul draws crowd of protestersLocal, federal law enforcement presence in St. Paul draws crowd of protesters

A large group of local and federal law enforcement officials was spotted at a home in St. Paul on Tuesday morning, drawing hundreds of protesters.

The apparent raid started before noon in the city’s Payne-Phalen neighborhood.

According to St. Paul police, federal agents were “working a detail” on the 600 block of Rose Avenue when protesters broke the barrier.

At the scene, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS crews spotted several agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, U.S. Marshals, St. Paul police officers and St. Paul Fire Department officials.

Witnesses also reported what appeared to be tear gas deployed as protesters gathered. Agents later used what appeared to be pepper spray on demonstrators.

One protester told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, “As they were leaving, is when they started tear gassing and pepper spraying and rubber bulleting. All that was for fun. They did that for fun. They didn’t have to — they could have just drove off.”

The family of the man who was detained in the incident told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that they felt as though the authorities were holding them hostage inside their home, adding they were shaken up and trying to figure out the next steps.

Protests over federal operation in St. PaulProtests over federal operation in St. Paul

In a video statement, St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry confirmed that chemical irritants were used during the protest.

Henry said St. Paul officers were called in after protesters broke a federal perimeter. There were reports that some people in the crowd were armed with rocks and sticks, so officers positioned themselves between protesters and federal agents.

Chief Henry emphasized that St. Paul law enforcement follows the city’s ordinances, which state that officers will work “cooperatively” with all federal agencies, but that St. Paul police officers do not enforce federal immigration laws.

“I understand the public is deeply frustrated by these issues, but to be clear: St. Paul Police does not do immigration enforcement, but we do have a responsibility to ensure laws aren’t broken in our city,” Henry said.

St. Paul police said they are reviewing body camera footage and will conduct a full review of the incident.

Mayor Melvin Carter spoke out Tuesday evening, saying he has serious concerns about what played out as federal agents attempted to arrest a suspect.

“I am concerned that it felt as though some of those federal agents intentionally stirred the pot and intentionally created as chaotic a scene as they possibly could before they left,” Carter said.

Carter also raised questions about the police department’s use of force, including the use of chemical irritants, referencing video captured by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS photographers.

“Many people now have seen a video of a woman standing still in front of a vehicle and having pepper spray or some type of chemical irritant blasted in her face at point-blank,” Carter said. “Videos like that call into question whether those values that we’ve lifted high of de-escalation, of minimal use of force, of maintaining that trust and maintaining that balance were upheld.”

Mayor Carter’s full statement can be watched below.

St. Paul Federation of Educators President Leah VanDassor said she was at the incident on Tuesday morning.

“Today, SPPD showed that they are willing to be complicit with Federal Law Enforcement as they abduct members of our community, and seperate families. They made the choice to do the wrong thing. Shame on them. Shame on any elected official that chooses to split legal hairs and use muddled language to justify the harm that has been caused,” VanDassor stated.

The full statement can be read below.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has reached out to county and federal officials for more information and comment, and continues to work to learn more about this incident. This story will be updated if any response is received.

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The post Local, federal law enforcement presence in St. Paul draws crowd of protesters first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News.