Elgin Police Refute ICE Claims Of Rioters Throwing Rocks, Bottles

ELGIN, IL — This past week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security alleged "rioters" in Elgin "threw rocks and bottles" at ICE agents during enforcement actions last weekend.

DHS officials are also claiming the Elgin Police Department "“refused to help protect ICE law enforcement."

Meanwhile, police in Elgin area refuting those reports.

Officials with the Elgin Police Department, in a statement posted to their website on Wednesday, say they have been reviewing video from social media and their officers' body-worn cameras and have spoke to witnesses at the scene as well as ICE agents regarding the ICE activities in the 1600 block of Maple Lane on Saturday, Dec. 6.

"The police department’s emergency communications center received over 50 calls relating to the incident," according to the statement. "Callers reported on vehicles blocking the roadway, persons having been struck by pepper balls and persons being exposed to other chemical irritants."

Local police did determine ICE agents used chemical irritants on bystanders at the scene, and emergency personnel administered medical care to seven people who were exposed to the chemical irritants. They were treated on the scene and then released, police said.

Police also received five calls from people who identified as federal agents. None of the agents, who called from the scene in Elgin, reported rocks or bottles being thrown at them.

A federal agent supervisor, who was not at the site of the incident, called police alleging bricks were bring thrown and that the tires of ICE agents were being slashed, according to the statement.

"An Elgin police supervisor on the scene at the time of that call did not observe any such activity," according to the statement.

Police did review its body-worn camera footage during the time when federal agents were leaving the incident area.

"The footage shows that some federal agents, while walking to their vehicles, were simultaneously deploying what appears to be crowd control munitions. The footage also showed other federal agents simply driving away in their vehicles," according to the statement.

The body-worn camera footage also shows an instance in which a bystander appears to throw a plastic water container at a federal agent's vehicle, and a different video on social media shows a bystander throwing a snowball at a federal agent's car, police said.

Police are encouraging residents who'd like to report an incident related to the matter, or provide any information, by calling the police department at 847-289-2962. Additionally, if you wish to provide any media footage to the department,you can submit those materials here.