Federal agents detained a US citizen in Evanston, Illinois by mistake; he was hospitalized with head, neck and teeth injuries

Political Guyentist · September 22, 20261 min read

Evanston officers answering a report of an argument just before 10 a.m. Sunday found the man on the ground. A plainclothes agent said he had been detained for fingerprinting after refusing to show ID and resisting. Agents then found he was not their target and was a US citizen, and let him go.

Five federal agents were working the area in separate unmarked vehicles, per the agent at the scene.
Witnesses told police they believed the agents were ICE; the agent never named his agency and DHS did not respond to a request for comment.
Officers photographed and documented his injuries at the hospital.

What we’re less sure of4 of 8 claims

Medium
A plainclothes agent said the man had been detained for fingerprinting after refusing to give ID and resisting
Explicitly attributed to the plainclothes agent at the scene; the agent's characterization is a single on-scene account.
Medium
Agents determined he was not their target and was a US citizen, and released him
Rests on the on-scene agent's statement as relayed in the police account carried by the Guardian.
Medium
Five federal agents were working the area in separate unmarked vehicles
Story attributes this to the agent at the scene, a single source.
Medium
Witnesses told police they believed the agents were ICE, but the agent never named his agency
Attributed to witnesses speaking to Evanston police; belief rather than confirmed agency identification.