Border Patrol Agent Charged With Assaulting Police Officer

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

A U.S. Border Patrol officer has been charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest after an incident in Long Beach, California.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges on Friday.

On July 7, Isaiah Anthony Hodgson, 29, “was allegedly off-duty, intoxicated, and armed with a handgun while at a restaurant in the Shoreline Village in Long Beach.” Hodgson reportedly entered the women’s bathroom, where he approached a woman, who noticed he was armed with a handgun. She subsequently informed the manager that there had been an armed man in the women’s bathroom.

Hodgson eventually made his way to the restaurant’s parking lot, where a security guard repeatedly asked hm to leave and told Hodgson that guns were not allowed on the property. Police arrived on the scene after being told someone at the restaurant had a firearm.

“When [police] arrived, they reportedly observed Hodgson intoxicated and unwilling to cooperate with their commands as they tried to detain him,” Hochman’s office said. “As Hodgson resisted arrest, he allegedly became agitated and physical with the officers, injuring one of them.”

The district attorney called the case “deeply troubling.”

“The conduct exhibited by Mr. Hodgson, a border patrol agent who has the duty to uphold the law and protect its citizens, is unacceptable and deeply troubling,” Hochman said. “No one is above the law, regardless of their position or badge. Law enforcement officers have a responsibility to always conduct themselves with integrity and professionalism. Our office will pursue prosecution accordingly to ensure justice is served.”

Border Patrol officers and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been highly visible in California since President Donald Trump took office in January. The agencies have carried out scores of raids across the state to round up undocumented immigrants. Last week, Trump signed into law legislation that would drastically swell the ranks of ICE and Border Patrol. The legislation provides funding to hire 10,000 additional ICE agents and 3,000 more Border Patrol officers.