Paramount Man Charged in Assault on Border Patrol Agent
A federal jury has issued charges against a resident of Paramount, California, who is accused of attacking a border patrol agent and hurling a cinder block during a protest against ICE in June. The individual, Jacob Daniel Terrazas, faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years.
The 30-year-old Terrazas is charged with one count of assaulting a federal employee with a deadly weapon that resulted in physical injury. This incident reportedly took place on June 7 near a Department of Homeland Security facility, during a protest that escalated into violence, as stated by a U.S. attorney in the Central District of California.
According to the indictment, Terrazas was among a group whose protests turned aggressive, and he allegedly threw objects, including cinder blocks and rocks. He is reported to have utilized a makeshift shield and sought cover behind a tree while repeatedly launching concrete blocks at the agent.
Documents from court indicate that one piece of the cinder block allegedly struck a Border Patrol agent on the left shin, inflicting injury and causing bleeding. The agent managed to withdraw briefly to tend to his wound but returned to the front line after realizing he could still stand. Another rock thrown during the altercation hit a second Border Patrol agent, who fortunately was not injured.
It was noted that Terrazas, who wore a dark beanie and a black mask that obscured the lower half of his face, participated in this assault while others also threw rocks at agents for approximately three hours. Law enforcement resorted to using non-lethal force, specifically a pepper ball, against Terrazas and the other assailants. Eventually, he was identified and taken into custody.
The U.S. attorney commented on Terrazas’ indictment, scheduled for trial on September 23, emphasizing the serious consequences he faces. The attorney declared, “We won’t stand by while our brave federal agents and officers are injured.”
This case is part of a broader trend, with numerous cases initiated against individuals accused of assaulting ICE agents enforcing immigration laws. Reports indicate that over 20 suspects have been charged with assaults on federal agents in California and Oregon in recent weeks.
