Florida Governor Condemns Violence Against Law Enforcement Officials

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a stern warning against acts of violence toward law enforcement officials, particularly those working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His comments follow a recent incident where a woman allegedly assaulted a state trooper during an enforcement operation outside a grocery store in Jacksonville.

The altercation occurred on February 4, 2024, in the parking lot of Mi Pueblo, a Mexican grocery store. Jennifer Cruz is accused of punching a state trooper in the face after exiting her vehicle. Footage of the incident shows Cruz yelling profanities at officers as they attempted to place her in a police vehicle. DeSantis referenced the incident during a news conference, asserting, “This is not Minneapolis. This is not going to end well for you in Florida.”

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier further criticized Cruz’s actions by sharing a still image from the police car’s dashboard camera, which depicted her smiling during her arrest. Uthmeier remarked, “This is Jennifer Cruz of Jacksonville. Jennifer disagrees with immigration enforcement and decided to commit a few felonies by getting out of her car and punching a Trooper in the face.” He emphasized Florida’s commitment to law enforcement, stating, “But unlike Minnesota, we don’t put up with this nonsense. Not today, Jennifer.”

The situation escalated rapidly, as confirmed by Juan Alvarez, the owner of Mi Pueblo. He reported witnessing law enforcement detain an individual before Cruz’s altercation. “After that, they detained another person, and it seems they got into an altercation with that person,” Alvarez explained. “It turned violent, and that led to the presence of a lot more police and federal enforcement showing up.”

Cruz now faces several charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting officers with violence, and threatening harm to officers. She has been released on bond following her arrest.

During the news conference, DeSantis reiterated the public’s right to protest government policies, stating, “You have a right to go out there and criticize government policy. You can go out there and protest within respected zones, but the idea that you’re going to assault one of our troopers is unacceptable, and you are going to face consequences as a result of that.”

The incident has drawn considerable attention, highlighting tensions related to immigration enforcement in the state. As Floridians continue to debate the role of ICE and immigration policy, DeSantis’s statements underscore the administration’s firm stance against violence directed at law enforcement officials.