Man, Woman Charged After Allegedly Dragging Federal Agent During Attempted Immigration Arrest in Minnesota
A man and a woman have been charged with assaulting a federal officer following a dramatic confrontation with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Plymouth, Minnesota, during an attempted immigration arrest.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, HSI agents were conducting surveillance on a parked Kia Optima linked to 24-year-old Oluwadamilola Ogooluwa Bamigboye, who is alleged to have overstayed his student visa. The agents were inside an unmarked Ford Explorer outside an apartment complex when the incident unfolded.
Authorities said a Jeep SUV driven by 23-year-old Rekeya Lionesha Lee Frazier pulled up next to the Kia, with Bamigboye seated in the front passenger seat. After noticing the unmarked vehicle, Bamigboye allegedly pulled a mask over his face and exited the Jeep.
HSI agents then approached the vehicle, displayed their badges, identified themselves as law enforcement officers, and informed Bamigboye that they wanted to speak with him about his immigration status. Investigators allege that Bamigboye jumped into the back seat of the Jeep and shouted at Frazier to drive away.
An HSI agent reportedly entered the front passenger seat of the Jeep in an attempt to stop the vehicle, while Bamigboye allegedly tried to push the agent out and another agent attempted to pull him from the back seat. Despite this, Frazier is accused of putting the Jeep into gear and driving off, carrying the federal agent inside the vehicle.
The affidavit states that the agent attempted to shift the Jeep into park, but Frazier repeatedly pushed his hand away, allegedly threatened to crash the vehicle, and claimed they were heading to a police station. The agent, who was in Minnesota on temporary assignment and unfamiliar with the area, said he feared he was being abducted.
During the pursuit, Bamigboye reportedly called 911 from the back seat, a detail confirmed by the Plymouth Police Department. HSI agents followed closely with lights and sirens activated, at one point inadvertently striking the Jeep from behind due to snowy conditions. Even after the agent inside the Jeep drew his firearm and ordered Frazier to stop, authorities say she continued driving until reaching the New Hope Police Department.
Upon stopping, Bamigboye allegedly fled the vehicle and ran into a nearby Hy-Vee grocery store. Frazier remained in the Jeep and was taken into custody after additional officers arrived. Another HSI agent pursued Bamigboye into the store, where a police officer located him, ordered him to the ground with a taser drawn, and arrested him after he allegedly refused to comply.
Both Bamigboye and Frazier are currently being held at the Sherburne County Jail, which houses most federal pretrial detainees in the Twin Cities area. Frazier declined to speak with investigators. Bamigboye told authorities he did not believe the agents had identified themselves but admitted instructing Frazier to drive away. He also reportedly stated that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from a past kidnapping in Nigeria.
The case remains under federal investigation.
Man, Woman Charged After Allegedly Dragging Federal Agent During Attempted Immigration Arrest in Minnesota