Crime & Public Safety
Austin man charged after ICE officers allege he struck agent with vehicle during traffic stop
Federal prosecutors say a man was charged in Austin after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers allege he struck an officer with his vehicle and led agents on a pursuit. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas announced the criminal complaint and initial court appearance in late September.
According to the complaint, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers initiated a traffic stop on Sept. 20 after confirming an immigration judge had issued a final order of removal for the driver, identified in charging papers as Wilber Rafael Garces-Perez, 28. Prosecutors allege Garces-Perez provided a driver’s license, then ignored orders to park and exit. The complaint and agency body camera footage are described in the filing as showing the driver abruptly closed his window and drove off, striking an ICE ERO officer with the vehicle’s side-view mirror.
The charging documents allege further that officers pursued the vehicle with emergency lights and sirens through commercial and residential areas, and that the pursuit included an alleged attempt by the driver to strike a pursuing officer—an encounter during which an ICE officer fired his pistol, the complaint states. These actions are alleged in the criminal complaint; a federal complaint is an allegation and the defendant’s guilt has not been proven in court.
Garces-Perez made an initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge; a detention hearing is set for Oct. 2. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and ICE HSI are handling prosecution and investigation, respectively; Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Verdeja is listed as the prosecutor in the filing.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.