LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A South Los Angeles tow truck driver accused of illegally towing a vehicle used by law enforcement officers to conduct an immigration enforcement operation last month is expected to be arraigned Tuesday on a federal charge.
Bobby Nunez, 33, is charged in Los Angeles federal court with theft of government property, a felony carrying a possible penalty of up to 10 years behind bars, prosecutors said.
Court papers allege Nunez interfered with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in downtown Los Angeles as they were arresting Tatiana Mafla-Martinez, 23, an undocumented immigrant from Colombia.
Federal prosecutors say the officers were using two government vehicles to box in Martinez’s vehicle and prevent her from escaping. Both ICE vehicles had their emergency lights activated during the Aug. 15 incident at the exit of an apartment complex parking structure, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
During the struggle to arrest Martinez, Nunez approached Martinez’s vehicle and began closing the passenger door of her vehicle on an officer, who then threatened Nunez with arrest, court papers allege.
Prosecutors contend that after being told a federal investigation was taking place, Nunez swore at the officers and told them “something was going to happen” to them.
While officers addressed a second person’s interference in the arrest, Nunez climbed into his Dodge tow truck and towed one of the ICE vehicles that was boxing in Martinez’s vehicle, authorities allege.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office contends the government vehicle had its keys inside and a firearm locked in a safe inside it.
Two days later, law enforcement say they observed Nunez’s tow truck parked in an assigned residential space at the apartment complex.
“Interfering with federal law enforcement officers during the performance of their duties has serious consequences, which the defendant has now discovered,” Eddy Wang, special agent in charge, Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles, said in a statement this month.
Wang said the agency “is committed to bringing swift accountability to all that impede, obstruct or assault federal law enforcement officers.”
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