SPOKANE, Wash – Former Spokane city council president Ben Stuckart and several other people now face federal charges related to a June 11th ICE protest in downtown Spokane.
A federal grand jury indicted Stuckart and several others on a variety of charges that include assault on a federal officer and conspiracy to impede or injure officers.
Stuckart, 33-year-old Justice Forral, 31-year-old Erin N. Lang, 34-year-old Collin J. Muncey, 20-year-old Thalia M. Ramirez, 35-year-old Bajun D. Mavalwalla II and 33-year-old Jac D. Archer have been charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers.
34-year-old Mikki P. Hatfield has bee charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers and Assault on a Federal Officer, Employee or Person Assisting a Federal Officer. 38-year-old Bobbi L. Silva has also bee charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers and Assault on a Federal Officer, Employee or Person Assisting a Federal Officer.
The indictment references the June 11 protest, in which Stuckart and others tried to block ICE agents from taking several immigrants from the facility in Spokane to the immigration detention center in Tacoma.
According to the charges, the group intentionally blocked the van from moving. Court documents also say Ramirez slashed the tires of the van with a boxcutter.
The indictment says several of the protesters pushed against the federal officers and “placed trash cans, sand/cement bags, benches, signs and other objects” to “block the exit of federal officers and detainees from the facility.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington says Silva struck a federal officer from behind while the officer was trying to clear a path for vehicles leaving the building.
When Spokane Police arrived and deployed smoke and pepper balls to help with crowd control, The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Hatfield picked up one of the incendiary devices deployed by police and threw it in the direction of law enforcement officers.
The defendants have a hearing scheduled in federal court Tuesday afternoon.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown issued this statement on the arrests:
“I just learned that several community leaders were detained this morning by federal agents apparently for their roles in the June 11 demonstration at the ICE facility. I’m outraged. This politically motivated action is a perversion of our justice system. The Trump Administration’s weaponization of ICE and the DOJ is trampling on the U.S. Constitution and creating widespread fear across our community. Spokane has been a welcoming city for immigrants and refugees for decades. The Trump Administration and Congress must provide legal pathways for people fleeing violence and seeking the American dream. That will make America great.”
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