Border Patrol Agent Arrested After Pulling Gun On Teen In Temecula: Sheriff's Department

TEMECULA, CA — A Temecula resident and immigration agent was arrested after pulling a gun on a neighborhood teenager while he was not on duty, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies on Tuesday arrested Gerardo Uribe Rodriguez, 45, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, assault by a public officer, and child endangerment. As of Monday, he was out on $40,000 bond and was expected to return to court on Dec. 26 to answer to the felony charges.

Now, the boy's family is demanding justice for the incident, which is a blatant abuse of the agent's power, according to the Kirakosian Law Group.

According to this, this is the first known case in California of an ICE/Border Patrol agent arrested and criminally charged for detaining a U.S. citizen at gunpoint while acting under the color of law.

In an effort to confirm Rodriguez's employment and years of service, Patch was referred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. CBP has informed the media that this matter is under investigation.

In the Nov. 10 security video below, timestamped at 10:15 p.m., released by attorney Greg Kirakosian, Rodriguez, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, is seen pacing on Daybrook Terrace in the Sommers Bend neighborhood.

At the 40-second mark, a man believed to be Rodriguez flagged down the teenage driver on the 3200 block of Daybrook Terrace. Armed with his gun and badge, according to authorities, he then ordered the teenager to stop and get out of his truck for speeding through the neighborhood.

The video lasts for 20 minutes and involves an altercation with neighbors and the boy's parents until Rodriguez ultimately releases the teen to his family.

“This is the first time an ICE agent crossed the line so blatantly that local law enforcement actually arrested him," Kirakosian said. "With such clear, unnecessary, and dangerous tactics, this is exactly what local agencies need to start doing.”

The Sheriff's Department was not called to the scene by Rodriguez, according to Sgt. Joe Narciso. It was the boy's parents who reported the incident to law enforcement. Deputies arrived at the scene shortly before 10:45 p.m.

"The Southwest Station’s Investigation Bureau responded and assumed the case. Rodriguez was contacted at his residence and taken into custody without incident. A search warrant was authored and served at Rodriguez’s residence, where evidence related to the investigation was collected," Narciso said.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Alyssa Morris at the Southwest Sheriff’s Station by calling (951) 696-3000.