SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Video obtained by ABC 10News shows the moments before, during and after a community volunteer, who is sometimes on hand at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in downtown San Diego to film when asylum seekers are detained, found herself in handcuffs Tuesday afternoon.
In the video, captured by other volunteers, agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement appear to make claims the woman "pushed an officer." The woman denies those claims, but said she was held in custody for almost eight hours.
YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL VIDEO BELOW:
“Well, it started in the hall where we were showing support for the asylum seekers," said the woman, we now know to be Barbara Stone after speaking with her firsthand.
Stone calls herself a community volunteer. She said she sometimes stands in the hallways and films when asylum seekers are detained by federal agents after their court hearings.
"It's our task, our responsibility, to try to videotape this so that there's some legacy, some proof of that's actually going on," Stone told ABC 10News.
On Tuesday, the scene escalated.
In the video, filmed by Stone's fellow volunteers, you see and hear the moment it happens around second 12.
It appears to show ICE agents and Stone argue in the hallway over a disagreement about whether or not Stone pushed one of the agents.
"Don't do that," said some of the agents.
"You walked right in front of me," you can hear Stone say to the female officer they allege she pushed.
"There was a large group of people and suddenly they were accusing me of assault," Stone told ABC 10News.
You can hear the agents discussing the alleged assault around the 1:26 mark.
“Yeah, she just pushed an officer," one of them says.
"You want to file charges? Which officer does?” said another.
“Sure, yeah, at this point, because people are getting out of hand," said the female officer they allege Stone pushed.
Stone then appears to exit the floor when several agents track her down in the stairwell.
The other volunteers follow behind and continue to film.
"Step out. She’s under arrest!" said one of the officers.
Stone said she was told otherwise when she was held in custody inside the building.
“They immediately said this is not an arrest," Stone told ABC 10News. "This is called a detention investigation, so you are not under arrest.”
Still, Stone said she was held there for eight hours. ABC 10News was interviewing her daughter the moment Stone was released.
Stone said she wasn't given any paperwork or notified of a future court date. She did say, however, it won't stop her from being a community volunteer in this fashion again.
“Oh, absolutely. Absolutely," she said. "I’m just going to try to hang back a little.”
ABC 10News reached out to federal authorities to learn more about this situation. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary released the following statement to ABC 10News supporting the ICE agents' assault allegations:
“On July 7, a woman assaulted an ICE officer as they were conducting immigration enforcement. The individual was detained and questioned at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in San Diego by Federal Protective Services officers. She was later released.
“Anyone who assaults or actively obstructs law enforcement in the performance of their sworn duties will face consequences which could include arrest. Our officers are facing a 700% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, and gang members.”
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