The Woodland Police Department announced that it would be investigating an incident captured on video, which depicts a man being struck by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle operating in Northern California.
Police said the incident occurred in Woodland, 30 minutes northwest of Sacramento, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 9:38 a.m., near Clover Street and College Street, in a residential area of the city.
The man, Antonio Moreida, 37, was protesting immigration enforcement activities occurring in the area when he was struck by a Chevrolet Tahoe operated by a federal agent, according to police.
Footage from multiple angles shows Moreida standing in the middle of the road, recording and protesting ICE activity farther down the street. The
footage shows a black Chevrolet Tahoe driving toward Moreida, then trying to stop and swerve around him; however, it appears the agent's vehicle makes contact with Moreida and knocks him to the ground.
After the collision, the driver notified dispatch and, according to police, cooperated with Woodland Police investigators.
Moreida was evaluated at the scene by emergency medical personnel before being transported to a local hospital for his injuries, according to police.
USA TODAY reached out to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency about the incident but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Woodland Police Chief Ryan Kinnan released a statement late Tuesday night about the incident, saying the department was investigating the collision and affirming it did not participate in the federal operation.
"I’ve seen the video myself, and I find it very troubling. I understand why people in our community are upset and worried,” said Kinnan in the statement. “Our responsibility is to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation to establish the facts. We recognize the concerns surrounding federal law enforcement activity in Woodland, and the safety and well-being of our community members remain a priority.”
Kinnan said the department would submit the case to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office for review once it completes its investigation.
However, during public comment at Tuesday afternoon's Woodland City Council meeting, Moreida questioned the department's sincerity by sharing his interaction with the officer tasked with investigating the case.
"(The officer) wasn't concerned whatsoever with any of the information about what had happened. ICE, although they did run me over, they stayed down the block. They stayed there the whole time, all four of the vehicles that were there. Myself, as well as others on scene, were trying to get them to approach them, get any sort of information, do something about it," Moreida said.
"Not concerned whatsoever. All that was taken down was my name and my birthdate. So I don't know where this investigation is at. Again, it didn't seem to be any concern by Woodland PD with investigating anything whatsoever."
Moreida also told the city council that he believed one of the federal agents involved in the immigration enforcement activities earlier in the day had parked their vehicle across the street from his family's home after he was sent to the hospital. He also said he was concerned ICE agents may have access to his personal information and questioned how they got those records.
"Hopefully I get some sort of support considering they are parked across the street from my house now, after having the audacity to run me over," he added.
This incident is the second time within a week that federal immigration agents have injured a resident of California.
On Oct. 17, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement severely injured a man in Long Beach.
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.
Regardless, state representatives denounced federal immigration activity occurring across California, resulting in altercations that leave Californians injured.
Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, California Assemblymember for District 4, called on local and state law enforcement to conduct a "full investigation" into the incident.
"This kind of behavior is unacceptable and falls short of the standards of professionalism and restraint our communities have every right to expect from law enforcement," said Aguiar-Curry in a statement.
"Every person should be able to expect that having law enforcement in our communities makes us safer. That's not happened with ICE deployments under the current administration here in California, or across the country."
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man struck by ICE vehicle in California questions police investigation
