LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A Los Angeles man pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of assaulting a federal agent during an illegal immigration enforcement protest in June.
Christian Cerna-Camacho, 28, punched the officer during the demonstration in Paramount, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Sentencing is set for March 27.
When agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security tried to detain Cerna-Camacho for the assault days after the protest, he attempted to drive away from them, prosecutors said.
Agents used their car to chase Cerna-Camacho’s vehicle, pinning it between two unmarked vehicles on Whittier Boulevard in Boyle Heights, court papers show.
Officials said the suspect’s car contained a woman passenger and two children in the backseat when the vehicle was pinned.
Cerna-Camacho entered his plea Tuesday in Los Angeles federal court to a single charge of assault on a federal officer.
The DHS released a statement explaining that the June 11 operation was a “targeted arrest” of a man described as a “violent rioter who punched a CBP officer,” referring to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
“This was no hit and run,” the department posted on social media. “This was a targeted arrest of a violent rioter who punched a CBP officer. When Homeland Security Investigations tried to arrest (Cerna-Camacho) for the assault, he attempted to flee. He was ultimately arrested and taken into custody.”
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