A 40-year-old woman from Jacksonville, Florida, has been arrested on multiple assault charges after allegedly striking a police officer working with federal immigration agents. Governor Ron DeSantis reacted by asserting that Florida is “not Minneapolis.”
During a press conference on Thursday, DeSantis commented: If you’re thinking about violently opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), maybe reconsider.
“This is not Minneapolis,” the governor stated to the media. “It’s not going to end well in Florida.”
The state’s attorney general echoed this sentiment, sharing an image of the woman smiling at the time of her arrest.
“This is Jennifer Cruz from Jacksonville,” Attorney General James Usmeyer remarked in an interview, noting that Cruz “disagreed with the immigration officials and chose to commit a felony by exiting her vehicle and punching the officer.”
“But unlike Minnesota, we won’t tolerate this behavior,” he added.
A video capturing the arrest and its aftermath surfaced on social media.
Cruz was taken into custody outside Mi Pueblo Mexican market in Jacksonville on Tuesday morning. Reports indicated that a dashcam recorded officers surrounding her vehicle, restraining her against the hood, and applying handcuffs.
The footage reveals Cruz kicking and shouting as officers tried to get her into the squad car, while she laughed and insulted one of them, calling him a “weak son of a bitch.”
“Don’t you dare start kicking me!” one officer was heard warning her.
Video footage shows her initially lying in the police car’s back seat, only to suddenly kick the officer with her boots and then lash out at the vehicle’s camera.
Cruz was booked into Duval County Jail on several charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, and threatening harm to an officer.
She was later released on bail and is set to appear in court on February 4.
During the news conference, Gov. DeSantis highlighted the collaboration between state, local, and federal law enforcement in Florida, contrasting it with the situation in Minnesota.
“You have the right to criticize government policy,” DeSantis stated. “Protest in a respectful manner, but assaulting our officers is unacceptable. You will face the repercussions.”
He also emphasized that Florida will not accept the kind of violence and destruction seen in Minnesota following incidents related to a fatal police shooting.
