Video shows ICE agents draw weapon during arrest in Naples Manor
An ICE arrest in Naples Manor Wednesday night escalated into a chaotic scene as agents clashed with protesters, with one agent drawing a weapon and another using pepper spray.
The incident occurred after 9 p.m. near Holland Street and Floridan Avenue, where witnesses said ICE agents pulled over a work van. Protesters from the community quickly gathered at the scene.
Video footage shows agents taking down a man, delivering several hits to his ribs. At one point, an agent drew a weapon and pointed it at the crowd of protesters.
Zuleyma Donjuan, who was among the protesters, described the moment the weapon was drawn.
"That's when he takes out the gun. And we were like, what's the reason? We're not saying nothing to you. We're not threatening you. We're just telling you to not be rough on him. He's he can't do nothing," Donjuan said.
Donjuan said she was pepper-sprayed while attempting to record the arrest.
"All I did was turn just to record how they're hitting him. He comes up to me, he just tells me, back up, I'm going to, pepper spray you. I wasn't near him. I wasn't screaming at him," she said.
The man who was struck by agents claims to be a U.S. citizen and says he sustained injured ribs from the punches. He denies throwing a rock at an ICE vehicle, which reportedly prompted the agents' response.
Gatany Jasmine, a Naples Manor neighbor, expressed fear over the agents' actions.
"They're supposed to be upholding the law, but it's so scary the way they do it," Jasmine said.
Jasmine also questioned the emotional stability of the agents involved.
"They're clearly not emotionally stable enough to handle situations like that because he's being questioned. He pulls a gun out. That's scary. Because what if your hand hits the trigger?" Jasmine said.
Donjuan shared her concerns about the potential for further violence.
"I personally feel like I'm scared. Like, what am I going to expect from someone else? Am I going to expect for him to shoot me next? Am I going to expect him to shoot my family next? Am I going to expect for him to shoot my neighbor? Like, what's going to happen? That's what I'm worried about," she said.
ICE has confirmed it is investigating the incident.
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