Just before 8:30 a.m. on Friday near the intersection of Vineland Place and Otsego Street in North Hollywood, a federal immigration operation resulted in a pedestrian being tackled into bushes by masked officers and a bystander having a handgun pointed inches from his face, sparking new outrage and local political condemnation.
North Hollywood Immigration Operation Caught on Cellphone Video
The incident began when Damari Butler, a resident sitting on his balcony, witnessed a pedestrian get tackled on the sidewalk by two masked men who appeared to be U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Butler stated there was no warning before the man was tossed into nearby bushes. Witnesses identified the detained man as 27-year-old Angel Luis Gonzalez Lobo from Venezuela, whose brother stated he did not know why he was arrested. Cellphone video captured by Butler shows masked agents dragging the handcuffed man toward an unmarked SUV.
As the arrest unfolded, a bystander walking two dogs came upon the scene. According to the video footage and witness accounts, a second masked person wearing tactical gear marked “ICE Police” ran over and aimed what witnesses described as a canister of pepper spray at the dog walker, telling him to back up. As agents carried the detained man away, one agent dropped a spray canister on the ground. The bystander rushed toward it and tossed the object away toward the street, prompting a second officer to pull out a handgun, shove the man into the bushes, and hold the weapon inches from his face before releasing him.
Did You Know? Last year, California became the first state to ban most law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while conducting official business, though a federal judge subsequently blocked the law from going into effect while requiring agents to clearly identify themselves, their agency, and their badge number.
Law Enforcement Experts Review Agent Tactics and Safety Concerns
Several law enforcement experts who reviewed the video footage evaluated the tactical decisions made during the confrontation. Jim Bueermann stated that while agents might have been justified in drawing a weapon when the bystander reached for the spray canister, they could not justify rushing the bystander and placing a gun to his face. Bueermann noted that agents failed to display good officer safety, pointing out that one agent dropped the canister on the ground to help carry the detainee, which he described as a major issue.
Bueermann added that the agent who pointed the gun could theoretically argue he was concerned with safety, but the fact that the bystander was ultimately allowed to walk away makes it unclear whether the agent genuinely feared for his life, suggesting instead that the officer appeared frustrated by a lack of compliance.
Political Backlash and Demands for Federal Accountability
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the situation unacceptable and declared it would not be tolerated in Los Angeles. Bass stated she was engaging with the Attorney General’s Office to ask them to investigate and prosecute any wrongdoing by the federal agents, and referred the matter to U.S. Representative Robert Garcia. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the operation or the reasons behind the detention.
Other local officials voiced strong condemnation following the release of the video. Councilwoman Nithya Raman characterized the operation as a kidnapping and stated that Angelenos should not live in fear.
Bystander Confronts Agents During North Hollywood Operation
Where did the North Hollywood immigration operation take place?
The incident occurred just before 8:30 a.m. near the intersection of Vineland Place and Otsego Street, outside the Ivy at NOHO apartments.
Footage from North Hollywood shows masked ICE agents pointing a handgun at a bystander walking his dogs as they arrest another man, lifting him by his arms and legs as he cries out in pain. pic.twitter.com/G84eVmGcze
What happened to the bystander who was threatened with a handgun?
The unidentified bystander, who was walking two dogs, was shoved into bushes and had a handgun pointed inches from his face after tossing a dropped spray canister. He was not detained or taken into custody during the initial encounter, though a later interaction with another agent involved pepper spray before he ran away.
How did local and federal officials respond to the incident?
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the situation unacceptable and asked the Attorney General’s Office to investigate, while the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This is egregious and will not be tolerated in LA. I’m engaging the Attorney General’s Office to investigate and prosecute any wrongdoing by these federal agents. Additionally, I referred this matter to the Office of U.S. Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat leading…
More on North Hollywood
On the morning of October 30, in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA, ICE agents drew their guns and pointed them at the face of a passerby walking a dog while violently arresting a man. pic.twitter.com/cKNc3dWeQu
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