Man injured in ICE incident in Long Beach

(This story was updated to add new information.)

A man was injured in an incident involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Long Beach on Oct. 17, officials say.

Mayor Rex Richardson said he received reports that a “community member” was injured during an encounter with ICE and that they’re working to verify what happened and confirm their condition in a statement on Oct. 17. Long Beach Police Department “transported the resident for medical attention,” the mayor said.

In a statement released the same day, the police department said that ICE personnel required assistance from city police and fire “due to vehicle vandalism taking place” and a person requiring medical assistance.

Officers “observed a large group disturbance involving ICE agents” when they arrived, and one officer found a handcuffed man being detained by ICE who was bleeding. The police department said officers on scene at Locust Avenue and Ellis Street “continued attempting to de-escalate the situation and keep the peace by directing everyone to clear the area.”

ICE agents were told that if they wanted to file a vandalism report, they could contact the city’s communications center and an officer would respond to take the report, according to the police department.

DHS and the city of Long Beach did not immediately respond to USA TODAY Network’s questions seeking more information about the circumstances that led to the incident and the man’s condition.

An ICE spokesperson said a person was arrested after he “smashed the mirror of a government vehicle.” ICE did not hit an individual on a bike, the spokesperson told the USA TODAY Network in a statement on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

“Resisting arrest is dangerous and can result in injury,” a spokesperson said.

ICE was conducting an operation to arrest a “criminal illegal alien” and was met with “anti-ICE agitators” during. The spokesperson said they attempted “to impede operations, threaten officers, and damage government vehicles despite officers giving lawful commands.”

“Officers followed their training and used the minimum amount of force,” a spokesperson said.

ICE is looking into potential charges for damages to a government vehicle.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli previously said he doesn't believe it was a criminal operation when asked about the incident during an unrelated press conference on Monday, Oct. 19. He said there may be charges coming from the incident, although he added that he is "not sure."

CNN reported that the man reportedly told the Long Beach mayor he is a U.S. citizen in an interview with Richardson. CNN reported that the mayor declined to comment on the man’s current condition.

Rep. Robert Garcia, a former Long Beach mayor whose district includes the city, said in an Oct. 18 post on X that ICE agents "brutally attacked and broke the arm" of a North Long Beach resident who is a U.S. citizen. The USA TODAY Network has asked Garcia's office for more information about how he learned those details.

The police department said on Oct. 17 that officers “transported the handcuffed injured man” to a fire station as Long Beach Fire Department was unable to access the area due to “items blocking the roadway.” Police said they removed the man’s handcuffs, and the fire department transported the man to the hospital for medical attention.

Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].