The arrest in Michigan of Arnoldo Jose Marquez-Pulido, a 33-year-old Venezuelan national, led to charges after he allegedly fled from law enforcement, resisted arrest, struck an agent, and briefly grabbed an agent’s Glock Model 19 during the scuffle.
Federal agents say Arnoldo Jose Marquez-Pulido was paroled into the United States after arriving at the San Ysidro border crossing in April, 2024, despite lacking a visa or travel document. He now faces a criminal complaint accusing him of assaulting a federal officer and seizing the officer’s service weapon while resisting arrest. The defendant is scheduled for an initial appearance in federal court in Detroit, where prosecutors will seek to keep him detained pending further proceedings.
Investigators with the Homeland Security Task Force say they had intelligence that unauthorized workers were operating as delivery drivers at a business in Utica, Michigan, and began surveillance. Agents observed a vehicle registered to Marquez-Pulido leave the lot and initiated a traffic stop after confirming he was in the country illegally. According to the complaint, Marquez-Pulido stopped briefly and then sped away, prompting agents to follow him without lights and sirens to avoid a dangerous chase.
Marquez-Pulido allegedly returned to the business and fled on foot, ignoring commands to stop from a Task Force agent. The agent tackled him as he tried to re-enter the building and the two struggled on the ground. During that struggle, Marquez-Pulido is accused of striking the agent in the face with an elbow, then reaching for and removing the agent’s Glock Model 19 from its holster.
Officials say Marquez-Pulido briefly wielded the pistol before losing control of it when the agent flipped him over, and additional officers secured the firearm after it fell to the ground. The complaint reports that officers had to restrain Marquez-Pulido as he continued to resist. Task Force personnel recovered and secured the weapon at the scene and transported the injured agents for medical treatment.
“Some say that enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is unfair because illegal aliens are all harmless. Today’s allegations break that narrative. High speed flight from arrest, fighting federal agents, and grabbing an agent’s gun are not ‘harmless.’ And what’s ‘unfair’ is the fact that Americans pay the price for dangerous illegal aliens,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. His office emphasized that a complaint is only a charge and not proof of guilt, and any decision to seek an indictment will come later in the process.
Medical reports in the complaint say one agent suffered a contusion to his elbow, abrasions on his knees and hands, and a contusion to his right cheek, while another agent suffered a contusion to his knee; both were treated at a hospital and released. HSI investigators leading the case stressed the dangers of attacks on officers and the wider public when violence erupts during enforcement actions. “Homeland Security Investigations remains committed to holding accountable those who threaten law enforcement and public safety,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “Attacks like this endanger not only our agents, but everyone in the vicinity. HSI Detroit will continue to respond decisively whenever our agents and partners are confronted with violence.”
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit leadership was also part of the announcement and highlighted the department’s focus on public safety. “Every day ICE Detroit officers work closely with our federal partners to safeguard our communities and uphold the integrity of our nation’s immigration system,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit acting Field Office Director Kevin Raycraft. “At a time when ICE officers are facing a 1,300 percent increase in assaults, ERO Detroit will relentlessly target illegal aliens who resort to violence against our officers and work to ensure they are removed from our communities
The investigation is being handled by Homeland Security Investigations and is tied to Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Justice Department initiative aimed at countering illegal immigration and dismantling transnational criminal organizations. Prosecutors indicated they will evaluate the case’s next steps, including whether to seek an indictment, since a felony trial cannot proceed on a complaint alone. The government will continue to coordinate with federal partners as the matter moves through the courts.
Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.
