2 Charged With Assaulting Police In Anti-ICE Protest In OC

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Two Orange County men face charges of assaulting a federal officer during a rally decrying recent immigration raids in Santa Ana, authorities said Wednesday.

Christian Andres Garcia, 32, and Rene Luna, 43, each face a charge of misdemeanor assault on a federal officer stemming from the Monday protest, said Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Both men face up to one year in federal prison if convicted, McEvoy said.

Garcia was accused of throwing objects at law enforcement officers positioned outside a Homeland Security Investigations office, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Luna allegedly threw water bottles and beer cans at officers elsewhere during the same protest, the statement said.

Both defendants are expected to make their appearances in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana in the coming days.

The charges come after a group of protestors decrying recent immigration raids in Orange County engaged in a standoff with law enforcement officers outside a federal building in downtown Santa Ana Tuesday evening.

The tense scene was punctuated by the presence of a federal law enforcement rooftop sniper aiming a rifle down at the crowd, photos published by The Orange County Register show.

The officer was also seen in a video posted to social media by TikTok user VentyG.

Warning: the video below contains profanity.

This marks the second day of protest after tensions over ICE enforcement operations across Southern California spread to Orange County.

The protest remained peaceful and police declared an unlawful assembly at 8 p.m. and the group eventually dispersed.

A group of protestors splintered off from the demonstration at the federal building at around 6:30 p.m. to take to the streets, but no arrests were immediately reported.

According to the Associated Press, Santa Ana locals were seen on video giving food and water to members of the National Guard on patrol.

National Guard units closed roadways of the county Civic Center Tuesday morning prior to the evening protest.

The military-style vehicles blocked a portion of 4th Street in front of the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse, as well as a part of Santa Ana Boulevard in front of a federal building two blocks away, according to resident reports.

The presence comes a day after reports of federal immigration authorities allegedly targeting day laborers waiting for work outside local Home Depot locations sparked protests in Santa Ana.

Crowds grew through the evening and eventually faced off against police. Authorities were accused of using rubber bullets and tear gas to deter protestors, while protestors were charged with throwing objects at law enforcement and destroying property.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the scene outside the county civic center was tense, showing protestors and counter-protestors standing off outside the federal building in Santa Ana.

The continued presence comes after new reports of ICE raids were made Tuesday. According to OC Rapid Response, ICE was reported at Orange County Social Services Building on Garvey Avenue in Santa Ana Tuesday.

Unconfirmed reports of immigration raids in Orange were also distributed on Facebook community groups.

The outbreak of violence drew scorn from city leaders.

Rep. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, told The Orange County Register that at least 31 people are currently in custody at ICE detention facilities in Santa Ana, from what he saw during two visits to the centers in recent days.

He called the raids "counterproductive" and warned they were sparking fear and instability in communities he represents.

RELATED: ICE Immigration Raids In Orange County Prompt Large Protest, Arrests

"What we are seeing in Santa Ana right now is pure violence and destruction of our city and businesses," Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua said in a statement. "Please go home and remember this is our city, do not destroy it. At some point this protest became nothing but pure chaos and violence. You have Santa Ana council members and a county supervisor condoning this destruction!!! What was accomplished today??? Pls be safe, stay home, take care of one another and if you are arrested you may face FEDERAL charges which are quite serious."

According to the Santa Ana Police Department, there were 11 arrests in the area on Monday night, including charges ranging from failure to disperse to vandalism to assaulting a police officer.

Santa Ana officers will have an increased police presence in the downtown area on Tuesday, according to Santa Ana Police officer Natalie Garcia.

"We support people's First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble and protest, but if and when they escalate then it is no longer a peaceful assembly and we are going to do everything we can to restore order," she said. "We just ask everyone to come out in a peaceful manner."