Venezuelan man charged with assaulting ICE officers during arrest in RI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Department of Justice said a Venezuelan man living in the country illegally was charged with assaulting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation Officers while being arrested on an immigration warrant.

22-year-old Edward Antonio Reyes Calderon was charged with forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing and impeding a law enforcement officer in the performance of official duties.

On Feb. 13, Reyes Calderon had appeared at the Rhode Island District Court on a domestic violence charge, and was released on bail when deportation officers began to take him into custody outside the courthouse.

Documents claim that the deportation officers, who were wearing “clearly marked” ICE uniforms, told the defendant to turn around, which resulted in him allegedly pulling away and becoming aggressive, according to the DOJ.

Three officers attempted to handcuff Reyes Calderon, who allegedly continued to “violently” resist arrest and grab an officer’s utility belt, which the DOJ said was inches away from the officer’s gun.

After several minutes, an officer pepper sprayed the defendant to control the incident.

The defendant was taken into custody, and two officers were evaluated with minor injures.

Reyes Calderon’s appearance date in U.S. District Court has not been set yet, according to the DOJ.

Reyes Calderon is also charged with grand larceny in New York.