Alexander Garcia Vargas, Assaulting Officer, South Carolina 2023

CHARLESTON, S.C. – A brazen assault on law enforcement has left a trail of destruction in its wake, and Grimy Times has the details.

Alexander Garcia Vargas, a 24-year-old illegal alien residing in the United States, has been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer during a lawful removal enforcement operation in North Charleston, South Carolina.

On December 6, 2023, agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers were supporting an immigration enforcement operation being led by ICE – ERO in North Charleston.

During the operation, officers encountered Garcia Vargas driving a vehicle registered in his name. According to ICE records, Garcia Vargas is residing in the United States illegally and has a court order for his removal.

When an officer attempted to remove Garcia Vargas from the vehicle, he began intentionally driving his vehicle, hitting two police vehicles and injuring the officer. Garcia Vargas then fled the scene of the vehicle stop, lost control of his vehicle, and struck a third vehicle occupied by two CBP Officers.

ERO and CBP officers were then able to remove Garcia Vargas from his wrecked vehicle and place him under arrest. Garcia Vargas made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on December 8 and will have a detention hearing and preliminary hearing on December 10.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cole Shannon is prosecuting the case. All charges in the complaint are merely accusations, and Garcia Vargas is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/illegal-alien-charged-assaulting-officer-during-lawful-removal-enforcement