SoCal agitators accused of stalking ICE agents, hurling obscenities with megaphone
Two California agitators were hauled off in cuffs after ICE agents accused them of hunting down and stalking federal officers.
Santa Ana police arrested two women on Wednesday after they were accused of following a pair of off-duty federal immigration agents.
25-year-old Madison Crabill and 33-year-old Adilene Tonoco –– both Santa Ana residents who regularly monitor ICE activities –– allegedly followed the agents and blocked their vehicle. They also apparently ran two red lights and used a megaphone to shout obscenities towards officers outside a police station.
The police department said that the agents finished an immigration operation in La Habra when they noticed a following car.
Family members, supporters and a few city council members gathered on Thursday in front of the Santa Ana City Jail to call for the pair’s release.
“We have always tried to teach our children right from wrong and I’ve never been prouder of my daughter standing for constitutional rights for all of us,” the 25-year-old’s father, John Crabill, said to NBC 4.
“How willing is our political will under this council to hold the city manager and this workforce accountable? How many more times do we need to say from the dais that we don’t want our public resources being used in this disgusting way against our constituents?” Councilmember Jesse Lopez also said according to the Orange County Register.
The attorney for the two women added that watching ICE agents is constitutionally protected and that it is not stalking. The observers had to have posed a “credible threat” or an “intent to harm” for it to have been a criminal stalking.
This comes as Santa Ana remains as Orange County’s sole sanctuary city, refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
It also comes after another Santa Ana resident was arrested by federal agents about a week ago. Jackie Cordova was doing her usual early morning ICE watch when agents surrounded and tackled her.