Federal authorities are searching for a man who fled an attempted immigration arrest on Monday after allegedly striking a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer with a vehicle, prompting the agent to fire his weapon.
The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. near Route 72 and Mermaid Drive in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township, according to federal and local authorities.
ICE said officers were attempting to take Friedrich Castillo-Ormeno, a Peruvian national subject to a final order of removal, into custody when the encounter escalated. According to the agency, Castillo-Ormeno entered a vehicle and drove away, striking an ICE officer during the attempt to flee.
The injured officer discharged his weapon as the vehicle left the scene. Authorities have not said whether any bullets struck the driver or whether anyone else was injured.
The officer was transported to a hospital and is expected to recover, officials said.
In a statement, ICE said officers were conducting a targeted enforcement operation when the suspect allegedly used the vehicle against law enforcement personnel.
“The driver then weaponized his vehicle and struck an officer,” the agency said. “The officer discharged his weapon, and the driver fled the scene.”
The Stafford Township Police Department said in a statement shared to social media that ICE was attempting to apprehend a suspect around 9:30 a.m. in Manahawkin when the person fled in a vehicle.
“The suspect fled the scene in the vehicle and has not been located at this time. The agent reportedly sustained unknown injuries and it is unknown if the suspect was injured at this time,” police wrote.
The department said police were not involved in the original ICE operation Monday morning. The department secured the crime scene and managed traffic while the Federal Bureau of Investigation was called in to investigate.
Federal authorities continued searching Monday for Castillo-Ormeno, whose whereabouts remained unknown.
Witnesses described a tense confrontation that unfolded rapidly, and said the shot shattered the back window of the van, but the vehicle did not stop.
Payton Johnson, who said he observed the incident, told local television reporters that the vehicle began moving forward during the encounter before accelerating and pinning the officer against another vehicle.
The FBI confirmed it has assumed responsibility for the investigation. Agents and other law enforcement personnel remained at the scene throughout the day collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Photographs from the area showed a large law enforcement presence and multiple evidence markers near the roadway.
Stafford Township police said local officers were not involved in the federal enforcement operation and responded afterward to assist with traffic control and scene security.
“The ongoing investigation is not being conducted by Stafford Township Police,” the department said in a statement.
Authorities said there is no indication of any ongoing threat to the public.
The incident comes amid heightened national debate over immigration enforcement and the role of federal agencies in carrying out deportation orders. Federal officials have reported an increase in assaults involving vehicles during enforcement actions, although independent verification of those figures was not immediately available.
Anyone with information about Castillo-Ormeno’s whereabouts is urged to contact federal law enforcement authorities.
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