By Tiffany Williams –
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues to conduct enforcement operations in Massachusetts, including arrests in Worcester. But on Thursday morning while attempting to arrest someone in Worcester, and outraged community confronted ICE agents.
Worcester Police Department said, “At about 11:13 AM, Worcester Police officers were dispatched to the area of Eureka Street for a report of a federal agent who was surrounded by a large group of about twenty-five people. We also received a call from someone saying that ICE officers were on scene and refusing to show a warrant to the crowd.”
Worcester Police said, “Officers responded to preserve the peace and prevent anyone from being injured.”
“When officers arrived on scene, they observed a chaotic scene with several federal agents from various agencies attempting to take a female into custody,” Worcester Police said. “Federal agents had placed this female under arrest and were attempting to leave in a vehicle. The crowd was unruly, and several people were putting their hands on federal agents and Worcester officers in an attempt to keep the vehicle and the arrestee from leaving. Worcester officers attempted to deescalate the situation and keep everyone safe.”
In addition to the one person arrested by ICE, Worcester Police also arrested one juvenile female, and one adult female.
The Juvenile female, Worcester Police Said, “As the vehicle went to pull away, a juvenile female had a newborn baby in her arms and was standing in front of the car with the newborn. Officers told her that she was endangering the child and that she needed to move. Eventually she complied and gave the newborn to someone else. As the vehicle moved away, she ran after the vehicle and kicked the passenger’s side of it. It appeared that she was going to run in front of the moving vehicle, and officers took her into custody. She is charged with Reckless Endangerment of a Child, Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. The infant was not injured.”
As for the female adult who was arrested, Worcester Police have identified her as Ashley Spring, 38, of Waconah Rd.
Spring, who is a candidate for the Worcester School Committee District A, allegedly pushed multiple officers as they attempted to arrest the juvenile. Worcester Police said, “She also threw an unknown liquid substance on them.”
Spring is charged with Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (unknown liquid), Disorderly Conduct, and Interfering with a Police Officer.
Thursday evening NewsTalk New England reached out to ICE for information, and ICE replied, “For the safety of our officers, ICE does not comment on ongoing operations.”
Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista on Thursday evening in a statement said, “I want to address an incident that took place on Eureka Street today. The series of events was no doubt disturbing and the footage of a family being separated is harrowing. Worcester police were dispatched to the scene after several emergency calls for assistance. Unfortunately, two individuals were arrested after several attempts by WPD officers to deescalate the chaotic situation, which included the endangerment of an infant. My heart goes out to all those impacted by today’s events and the growing tension we all feel due to the national political climate. I want to reassure our community that the municipality will never target individuals based on their immigration status and reaffirm that the City of Worcester and Worcester Police Department does not assist with ICE civil detainments, according to Massachusetts State Law, but may not interfere with it. However, it is the municipality and department’s responsibility to uphold the law and protect the peace of our community.”
Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty issued a statement saying, “I am disturbed to hear about today’s events involving ICE. As someone who prides themselves on leading a welcoming city, I am devastated to hear about the separation of a family, especially with Mother’s Day around the corner. The fear of ICE tearing a family apart is the worst nightmare of so many in our city. I have asked the City Manager for a full report of the incident. We were not notified by ICE about the detainment. Simply put, we cannot have this happen in our community.”
Worcester Police said, “This chaotic incident is still under investigation. Video is being reviewed and further charges might be forthcoming.”