The Worcester metropolis councilor who tried to dam the arrest of a prison unlawful immigrant accused of assaulting her pregnant daughter has been charged in reference to the chaotic altercation.
Metropolis Councilor Etel Haxhiaj has been charged with one rely every of assault and battery on a police officer and interfering with police throughout the controversial ICE showdown, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette first reported.
The Worcester Police Division sought three prices towards Haxhiaj on Might 12, in accordance with courtroom information made out there on Wednesday, shortly after a district courtroom clerk Justice of the Peace discovered possible trigger to cost the councilor with two of the crimes throughout a closed-door assembly, the Telegram reported.
Haxhiaj joined roughly 25 neighbors in responding to Eureka Road after the presence of federal brokers within the residential neighborhood sparked anger on the morning of Might 8. The councilor had been known as out for shielding Rosane Ferreira De Oliveira, the goal of the ICE operation.
Ferreira De Oliveira, 40, initially of Brazil, is accused of hitting her pregnant daughter with a cellphone charger cable in an incident this previous February. The girl allegedly entered the nation illegally in August 2022 throughout the “previous administration’s open border policies.”
Physique digicam footage that the Worcester Police Division launched every week after the conflict exhibits Haxhiaj grabbing at ICE officers and mouthing, “Don’t touch me!” She’s heard shouting, “Do not take her!” “You do not show any warrants, get out of our neighborhood.”
In a separate video from the scene, Haxhiaj is heard telling a metropolis officer, “I am trying to protect my constituent. I have the right to be here. I am the city councilor, and I am protecting my constituents.” The councilor additionally stated, “All you needed to do was just have one of us hold her and contain her. You didn’t have to take her. … Your use of force is unnecessary.”
Haxhiaj was referring to the teenage lady who witnesses on the scene have stated is the daughter of the lady detained by ICE. Metropolis police arrested the juvenile feminine on prices of reckless endangerment of a kid, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier has since requested the courtroom to drop the case towards the lady, “given the totality of circumstances.”
Haxhiaj’s prices stem from the councilor allegedly pushing a police officer, recognized as Shauna McGuirk, within the chest and pulling the officer’s arm as she was making an arrest, in accordance with a press release of info filed by Worcester police Lt. John Bossolt, per the Telegram.
She is scheduled to be arraigned on July 23.
Worcester Police, not initially on the scene, responded to calls from federal brokers who wanted help in separating from an “unruly” crowd of roughly 25 activists who surrounded them.
A day after the incident, the Worcester Police Patrol Officers’ Union demanded that town carry out an investigation into Haxhiaj’s conduct, saying that it believes the councilor “broke her oath … and ethical laws.”
“The conduct of this anti-police activist councilor is deplorable and unacceptable,” the union acknowledged. “Regardless of political opinions or views, city officials should never condone the assault of an officer and flat-out disregard to the point of violent opposition, the authority of police to maintain safety and public order.”
Haxhiaj additionally caught the eye of the Division of Homeland Safety. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated the councilor “pulled a political stunt and incited chaos by trying to obstruct law enforcement.”
Simply days later, in an oblique discover, Massachusetts U.S. Legal professional Leah Foley warned that her workplace would examine anybody who tries to intervene with ICE operations throughout the Bay State, together with elected officers.
“This conduct poses significant public and officer safety risks,” Foley stated. “It is conduct that should be vilified rather than glorified.”
Worcester Metropolis Council Vice Chairman Khrystian King has supported his colleague, saying he believes Haxhiaj confirmed “moral leadership” in her response and that “she rose to the moment – not for politics, but for principle.”
