A man from California, who was trying to escape from ICE agents, took a bold move by scaling a prison fence. This incident unfolded as federal immigration authorities were attempting to apprehend 25-year-old Jonathan Cosme Antonio from Carpinteria.
On Friday morning, around 8:30 a.m., local police responded to a situation involving a vehicle obstructing the entrance to the main county jail in Santa Barbara. An ICE agent reported that they were in pursuit of Antonio when he made a run for it, leaping over the jail’s fence.
After some searching, authorities located him hiding among storage containers outside the facility. It turned out he had fallen while trying to escape and sustained some injuries.
Deputies highlighted that their involvement began when they arrived to help with the situation, following the report of a car blocking the jail’s entrance. The ICE agent had been inside the vehicle, which had crashed and was leaking fluids.
Witnesses recounted that the unmarked ICE vehicle was speeding during the chase before it lost control. Later, it was revealed that multiple ICE vehicles were present at the scene as officials investigated.
Antonio was transported to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and was cited for trespassing. There were also reports that ICE had been frequently spotted around the prison in the weeks leading up to the incident.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that they were assisting by maintaining order while the ICE agents dealt with their vehicle situation. A spokesperson mentioned that their role was primarily to clear the area.
It remains uncertain whether Antonio was taken into custody by ICE following this incident.
