The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a Lakewood man outside of Fircrest City Hall last week following a court hearing unrelated to his immigration status. The city of Fircrest said it did not work with ICE to arrest the man nor did it know ICE was planning to arrest him.
According to Fircrest/Ruston Municipal court records, the 44-year-old man was in court for an arraignment in a fourth-degree assault case on July 23, in which he pleaded not guilty. He is accused of choking and punching a woman he lived with June 30. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10.
Messages The News Tribune left with ICE public affairs officer David Yost and the man’s attorney were not immediately returned Tuesday. It’s unclear where the man is being held by ICE and what his immigration status is…