A New Jersey man, Brendan John Geier, 26, faces charges after reportedly biting two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a protest outside a Newark detention facility. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Geier was arrested and charged with assaulting federal officers, causing bodily harm.
The incident unfolded at Newark’s Delaney Hall detention center, where protests against ICE have been ongoing for more than a week. These demonstrations have led to accusations of attacking federal agents. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche commented, Peaceful protest doesn’t translate to violently attacking federal law enforcement officers.
Blanche expressed concern over the lack of local law enforcement support, indicating that rioters are regrouping and continuing their aggressive actions. He warned that additional arrests could occur as investigations proceed. We will not tolerate the vicious attacks we have seen in Newark the last few days, and we will make arrests and hold people accountable for criminal conduct,
he stated.
Nine arrests occurred during Thursday’s confrontation, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Federal agents had to employ pepper spray as part of crowd-control measures to manage the situation.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin remarked, The Trump Administration will always stand with our law enforcement officers,
further asserting that anyone assaulting officers will face severe legal repercussions.
Per DOJ reports, the incident occurred at around 10:30 a.m. as federal officers managed security operations. Prosecutors detailed that a protester group blocked a roadway, leading to officers forming a line to advance toward the crowd, reportedly including Geier. Despite repeated commands to disperse, the protesters remained in place.
The DOJ release described Geier’s actions, noting he fought with officers, kicking them and biting one’s forearm and another’s knuckle. The officers received treatment at a local hospital.
In another incident related to the protests, authorities arrested a man for allegedly making death threats against an ICE officer and their family.