[Editor’s note: This aricle was originally published on Oct. 16 by the Red Bank Green, a news site in Monmouth County that launched in 2006.]
UPDATE: The Borough of Red Bank has issued a statement describing the incident as a pursuit of a suspect by ICE agents that resulted in a crash injuring an agent and the target of the operation. Borough officials are also asking county and state officials to investigate the incident. See update below.
Federal immigration agents arrested at least two people after what appeared to be a traffic accident involving one of their cars in Red Bank Friday morning.
Multiple videos posted to social media show immigration agents arresting at least two men as numerous law enforcement officers converged in unmarked cars on Catherine Street just east of Shrewsbury Avenue near Juanito’s grocery.
The contents of the videos was confirmed by redbankgreen interviews with eyewitnesses.
The videos also show a green pickup truck facing westbound on Catherine Street nose-to-nose with an eastbound facing grey sedan and what appears to be steam or smoke rising from one of the cars.
An ambulance arrives on the scene, but it is unclear from the videos if anyone received treatment.
Multiple cars and trucks, including at least two with covered license plates were parked on the scene as a mix of masked and unmasked agents detain two people and appear to be investigating vehicles on the scene.
Red Bank Police officers arrive on the scene as the area is taped off with crime scene tape.
An email to U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement’s media office seeking information went unreturned.
Several hours after this post was published, the Borough of Red Bank issued the following press release. redbankgreen is publishing it in its entirety.
“RED BANK, NJ – The Borough of Red Bank is providing the following information regarding an incident involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents that occurred earlier this morning in the vicinity of the Red Bank Train Station.
Based on information currently available, ICE agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle near the Red Bank Train Station. The vehicle did not stop, and the subsequent pursuit continued several blocks to Catherine Street, where the vehicle was involved in a collision with a vehicle operated by an ICE agent.
The Red Bank Police Department was not notified of any planned ICE enforcement activity within the Borough and had no prior knowledge of or involvement in the federal operation. Red Bank officers became involved only after the collision occurred, when they were called to the scene to conduct a motor vehicle accident investigation.
Both the driver of the pursued vehicle and an ICE agent sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision. Both vehicles were rendered inoperable and subsequently towed from the scene.
The Borough wishes to reiterate that the Red Bank Police Department did not participate in the federal enforcement operation or the attempted traffic stop. The Department’s involvement was limited to responding to and investigating the resulting motor vehicle accident.
The Borough urges the appropriate county and state agencies to conduct a further review of the circumstances surrounding this incident to ensure a thorough and independent examination of the actions taken. Additionally, the Borough encourages anyone who witnessed the incident or has information regarding potential misconduct by federal agents to report their observations through the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General’s reporting portal at https://www.njoag.gov/portal/.
The Borough remains committed to public safety, transparency, accountability, and ensuring that residents have accurate information regarding incidents occurring within our community.
All additional media inquiries regarding the federal enforcement operation should be directed to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).”
