Justice Department Drops Assault Charges in Minnesota Vehicle-Ramming Case

Federal prosecutors dropped assault charges on Monday against Jose Espinoza-Espinoza in Federal District Court in Minnesota after he was accused of ramming his vehicle into federal agents during an immigration operation outside a Mexican restaurant in Virginia, Minn. The dismissal came at a five-minute hearing in which prosecutors did not present any witnesses to establish probable cause.

Magistrate Judge Leo I. Brisbois consented to the government’s request to dismiss the charges and ordered Mr. Espinoza-Espinoza released from criminal custody. The move appeared to be the first time the Justice Department has backed away from pursuing an assault case against a federal agent in Minnesota since the Trump administration ramped up an immigration crackdown, the outlet said.

Administration officials have repeatedly asserted that federal agents in Minnesota have come under constant attack as they carry out the White House’s deportation efforts; those claims have grown after immigration officers fatally shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in recent weeks.

Court papers say that Mr. Espinoza-Espinoza was taken into custody on Jan. 16 after several federal agents approached him in his Mazda and he "rapidly accelerated," injuring an agent’s finger and striking another agent’s vehicle, causing it to leak coolant fluid.

Key Topics

Politics, Jose Espinoza-espinoza, Justice Department, Virginia, Minn, Immigration Enforcement, Federal Agents