Update: Brookhaven Police reveal more information about arrests at ICE rally

Note: This story has been updated with the names of people arrested by police and details from the Brookhaven Police.

Six protestors were arrested during and after a demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) turned aggressive along the 3300 block of Buford Highway in Brookhaven on Tuesday, June 10.

The protest started as an organized effort along the international corridor, which was held in protest of President Donald Trump’s policies on deportation in solidarity with other such events around the nation, including ones in Los Angeles, CA that have made national headlines.

The City of Brookhaven had advance notice of the event, according to officials. According to a release from Brookhaven Police, the protest was led by the Atlanta branch of the Party for Socialism & Liberation.

“The demonstration began peacefully, and Brookhaven officers maintained open and constructive communication with protest organizers throughout the event,” the statement said. “The protest remained non-violent for the majority of the evening, with the one arrest made at approximately 7:30 p.m. after a male entered the active roadway despite multiple warnings from officers to remain on the sidewalk.”

The release said that around 8:45 p.m., officers noticed several people concealing their identities and loitering behind closed business, which was deemed”behavior inconsistent with the main protest activity.”

Brookhaven Police advised the protest organizers that a dispersal order would be issued at 9:30 p.m. if the activity continued.

Organizers acknowledged the request and informed officers that their demonstration was concluding, and their members had left the area.

The organizers further “alerted officers on the scene that the individuals that stayed behind and concealed their faces were not associated with their peaceful demonstration,” the statement said.

After the formal dispersal order was issued, officers began clearing the area. During this process, they were met with fireworks and other explosive devices thrown at them “with the intent to injure.”

 While the crowd initially retreated, some individuals regrouped and began launching additional fireworks and blunt objects, including rocks, at officers, the statement said.

A widely circulated video shows two men jumping on police vehicles and smashing car windows.

Five people were subsequently arrested for offenses related to the escalation. Three marked Brookhaven Police patrol vehicles sustained minor vandalism in the form of broken windows, and other property damage near the protest was found, including  anti-ICE graffiti, vandalism, and destruction of property.

Investigators will deploy their technology capabilities “to identify additional agitators who launched fireworks and projectiles with the intent to injure officers,” the statement said.

Police have received several tips, which are being actively pursued.

Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley praised the initial cooperation between officers and protest organizers, saying that the department  “supports the right to peaceful assembly and is committed to protecting public safety.”

On June 11, police released the names of the six suspects who were arrested:

• Diego Juan Domingo, residency unknown, charged with disorderly conduct, willful obstruction of law enforcement, and unlawful assembly;
• Balmaro Pineda of Brookhaven, charged with willful obstruction of law enforcement, unlawful assembly, and pedestrian in the roadway;
• Elijah Petty of Sandy Springs, charged with disorderly conduct and willful obstruction of law enforcement;
• Yair Cabrera of Chamblee, charged with reckless conduct, willful obstruction of law enforcement, unlawful assembly, and inciting to riot;
• Rachel Tupler, residency unknown, charged with disorderly conduct, willful obstruction of law enforcement, and unlawful assembly;
• Nelson Ochoa Montoya, residency unknown, charged with loitering and prowling and willful obstruction of law enforcement.

Tupler and Montoya were transported to a local hospital with injuries and released from custody. DeKalb Jail records indicate that the remaining suspects were still in custody as of Wednesday, June 11.

A similar demonstration was held on Feb. 1 at Plaza Fiesta on Buford Highway.

“We are thankful that, by and large, the demonstration yesterday evening was an organized, peaceful event, where several hundred residents voiced their concerns in an appropriate manner,” said Brookhaven Mayor John Park. “The City of Brookhaven supports everyone’s right to speak and be heard, as long as it does not injure or cause damage to others.

“I am grateful to Brookhaven Police for handling this delicate situation in a safe and professional manner, and grateful to our residents for not allowing their demonstration to devolve into violence and chaos,” he continued.

The Brookhaven City Council holding its regular bi-monthly meeting at the time the protests began. City Manager Christian Sigman noted that the Brookhaven Police Department would not have an update at the meeting because they were “taking care of other things.”

A statement from the Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr warned those who may try to disrupt future protests.

“For those trying to make their weekend plans, the bottom line is this – we will defend the right to peacefully protest, and we will not hesitate to bring Domestic Terrorism charges for those who earn it,” Carr said.

“We are not California or New York. We are Georgia. We don’t make excuses for criminals here. We prosecute them,” Carr said.

The nationwide “No Kings” rallies against the Trump administration’s policies are set for this Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to noon in Atlanta at Liberty Plaza across from the State Capitol and in Tucker at Northlake Festival Shopping Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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