A protest turned tense in Peoria, Arizona, on Tuesday after federal agents served a search warrant at a home—leading to the arrest of one person and the assault of a police officer during a brief clash with demonstrators.
Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) searched a residence on 69th Avenue between Peoria Avenue and North Lane. Peoria police were on site to assist with traffic control. Officials confirmed the operation was part of a narcotics and human smuggling investigation. Agents seized drugs and an unknown powder, arrested one suspect on federal charges, and turned another individual over to immigration authorities.
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Earlier, Peoria police had said the warrant was strictly related to a drug case and did not involve immigration enforcement. This discrepancy fueled confusion and misinformation that quickly spread online, drawing a crowd of protesters who believed it was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation.
Ricardo Reyes of Common Defense, a veterans advocacy group, said they responded within minutes after receiving a call about potential ICE activity at the scene. Among those who joined the protest was Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo, a Democrat representing District 5.
“We’re going straight to Peoria’s elected officials to ask why they did this without notifying the community or advocacy groups,” Gallardo said. “This is a tragedy.”
As federal agents left around noon, tensions rose. According to police, two protesters blocked a police sergeant’s path as he attempted to leave the scene. One protester then allegedly assaulted the sergeant. Additional officers moved in, pushed the crowd back, and escorted the suspect to a patrol car. The sergeant was not seriously injured.
In a statement posted on social media, Peoria police clarified that the operation was unrelated to ICE or immigration enforcement. “Misinformation online caused protesters to gather under the false belief that immigration authorities were involved,” the department said. “The situation escalated when a suspect assaulted an officer, and the crowd became increasingly disruptive.”
The department reaffirmed its support for peaceful assembly but emphasized the need to maintain safety for both officers and the public.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell strongly condemned the violence. “An attack on a police officer is never appropriate,” she said. “These men and women risk their lives daily. While the assumption that this was immigration enforcement was incorrect, assaulting an officer or damaging property is never justified and will be prosecuted.”
Kevin Boontjer, a retired Tempe Police Sergeant who reviewed video footage from the protest, said officers handled the situation reasonably. “Disinformation spread fast and escalated things. It put everyone—officers and community members—in a bad place,” he said.
Boontjer added that the unexpected turnout of protesters during what was supposed to be a controlled drug investigation created a volatile and dangerous environment. “You plan staffing based on what you reasonably expect. This situation changed fast.”
