Colorado Bureau of Investigation Launches Urgent Probe into Federal Agent’s Assault on Protester
UPDATE: The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has just announced it will investigate a shocking incident involving a federal agent accused of violently slamming a protester to the ground in Durango on July 11, 2023. This urgent investigation comes in response to widespread public outcry following the incident, which has sparked a debate over federal law enforcement’s use of force against peaceful demonstrators.
The CBI confirmed that it will examine whether state criminal law violations occurred during the altercation involving protester Franci Stagi. Stagi was protesting outside the ICE field office when the federal agent allegedly seized her phone and threw her to the ground. This incident was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media, raising significant concerns about law enforcement practices during protests.
Authorities report that the protest was centered around the controversial arrest of a father and his two children, who were detained by ICE while on their way to school. ICE has stated that the family members are not lawful residents of the U.S., sparking outrage among community members and local officials.
The CBI investigation will be submitted to the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, led by Sean Murray, upon completion. The decision to file any criminal charges will rest with Murray, but the CBI has indicated it will refrain from further comments until its findings are finalized.
Durango Police Chief Brice Current requested the CBI’s involvement, emphasizing the need for an independent review of the federal agent’s actions. “The police department has handled themselves to the letter of the law,” said Mayor Gilda Yazzie, expressing her concern over the use of force against peaceful protesters. She noted that the federal response to the demonstration was “just terrible.”
As tensions rise, the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the events outside the ICE facility. They have called for transparency and accountability, urging both state and federal officials to review the actions of federal agents during the protest. Commissioner Marsha Porter Norton stated, “The images, videos and accounts from this week have affected many people in our community.”
A special meeting is scheduled for today at 4 p.m. at City Hall, where Chief Current will provide a presentation about the protest and the subsequent altercation at the ICE office. Community members are expected to voice their opinions on the police response and the underlying issues surrounding immigration enforcement practices.
Local Councilor Shirley Gonzales participated in the protest and attempted to conduct a welfare check on the detained family but was turned away by federal agents. “Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it is moral,” she stated, advocating for the immediate release of the family and a resumption of their asylum process.
The incident has drawn criticism from state officials, including U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, who have condemned ICE’s actions. Hickenlooper labeled the family’s arrest as “another overreach from an agency pulling people off the streets,” while Bennet criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies for their cruelty and inhumanity.
As the investigation unfolds, community members and local leaders are left grappling with the implications of federal law enforcement actions on civil rights and public safety. The CBI’s findings could have far-reaching consequences for how such incidents are handled in the future.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the CBI investigation progresses and community responses continue to emerge.
