Arrests at Atlantic City ICE Protest, But Accounts Differ on How Many and What Happened

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Multiple people were arrested Saturday during a demonstration outside Atlantic City police headquarters, but the exact number of arrests and the full circumstances surrounding them remained unclear late Saturday as published accounts differed and police had not released a detailed public account.

The demonstration was organized by immigrant-rights group El Pueblo Unido following a dispute over a traffic stop involving the group's executive director, Cristian Moreno-Rodriguez, as he was monitoring federal immigration enforcement activity in Atlantic City.

Moreno-Rodriguez was among those taken into custody Saturday.

The Press of Atlantic City reported five arrests during the demonstration. BreakingAC reported at least four.

South Jersey NewsBeat has not independently confirmed the final number, and as of late Saturday there was no detailed public account from the Atlantic City Police Department resolving the discrepancy.

Some Arrest Details Emerge

BreakingAC reported that attorney Jonathan Diego identified four people taken into custody and that they were later released.

The outlet subsequently reported, citing court records, that two of those arrested were Keli Smith and Anthony Diaz, and that each was charged with obstruction and resisting.

Another person was identified in BreakingAC's reporting only as Jose.

South Jersey NewsBeat has not independently obtained the court records cited by BreakingAC and is therefore attributing those identities and charges to the outlet's reporting.

The complete list of people arrested and charges against each remained unavailable late Saturday.

Confrontation Preceded Arrests

Published accounts indicate that a confrontation occurred during the demonstration involving protesters and a man expressing support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

BreakingAC identified the man as Devon Barber and reported that Barber said a protester pepper-sprayed him.

South Jersey NewsBeat has not independently confirmed that allegation or determined what occurred immediately before the reported use of pepper spray.

It also remained unclear Saturday night whether anyone was charged specifically in connection with the reported confrontation or pepper-spray allegation.

Those are among the questions an official police account could clarify.

Dispute Began Before Saturday's Protest

The controversy began with a traffic stop involving Moreno-Rodriguez as he was following and documenting vehicles associated with federal immigration enforcement.

El Pueblo Unido has alleged that Atlantic City police interfered with those efforts and accused police of assisting ICE.

Atlantic City Police Chief James Sarkos publicly rejected that characterization before Saturday's demonstration.

Police released city surveillance video that they said showed the driving violation that prompted the stop.

“The facts are straightforward: the officer personally observed a dangerous motor vehicle violation that created a serious risk to the safety of the public,” Sarkos said.

Sarkos said the officer conducted the stop after observing the driving violation and issued a summons.

The chief also said the Atlantic City Police Department follows the New Jersey Attorney General's Immigrant Trust Directive and rejected the allegation that the officer was assisting ICE.

“This was a traffic stop resulting from an observed traffic violation. Nothing more,” Sarkos said.

El Pueblo Unido has disputed the police explanation and maintained that the encounter interfered with the group's efforts to monitor immigration enforcement.

That disagreement prompted Saturday's demonstration outside police headquarters.

Atlantic City Police Union Defends Officers

Atlantic City PBA Local 24 also issued a forceful defense of the officers involved, while specifically noting that its statement did not represent Sarkos or the Police Department's command staff.

In a Facebook post, the police union said Atlantic City officers are required to follow guidelines established by the state Attorney General's Office concerning immigration and do not assist ICE when federal agents conduct operations in the city.

“Our officers did absolutely nothing wrong!” the PBA wrote. “To suggest they did or to suggest we are assisting ICE is absurd.”

The union pointed to surveillance video and other videos of the original incident as evidence that the motor vehicle enforcement was justified.

The PBA also objected to officers being called “Nazis” and other disparaging names during the controversy.

“The people of this community know we are fair and try to treat everyone with respect,” the union wrote.

The PBA said many Atlantic City officers were born and raised in the city or Atlantic County and have friends and relatives in the immigrant community. It also noted that a majority of the department's officers are minorities while rejecting accusations that officers are racist.

The union's statement ended with an especially pointed message.

“You can't just recklessly drive around the city running traffic lights and put others at risk,” the PBA wrote. “Our officers will do their job. If you are not from AC then take this insanity back to your own town.”

The PBA's statement represents the position of the police union, not an official account from the Atlantic City Police Department of what led to Saturday's arrests.

Mayor Calls for Cooperation

Mayor Marty Small Sr. also addressed the controversy Saturday, saying the city and Police Department are not opposed to Atlantic City's Hispanic community and expressing hope that the different sides can work together, according to published reports.

The dispute comes amid heightened concern within Atlantic City's immigrant community over federal immigration enforcement.

El Pueblo Unido has been monitoring and documenting ICE activity in Atlantic County and has encouraged residents to report sightings of federal immigration agents.

Official Account Still Needed

Despite the information that emerged Saturday, several basic questions remained unanswered late Saturday night.

How many people were actually arrested — four, five or another number? Who was arrested? What was each person charged with? What specifically prompted officers to begin making arrests? Was anyone charged in connection with the reported physical confrontation or alleged use of pepper spray?

For now, some of those answers come from participants, attorneys and published news reports rather than an official police account of Saturday's arrests.

The distinction is particularly important because published reports do not agree on the total number of arrests.

As of late Saturday night, the Atlantic City Police Department had not issued a detailed public release addressing Saturday's arrests.

South Jersey NewsBeat will update this story when the Atlantic City Police Department releases additional information or further independently verifiable details become available.