Tear gas, pepper spray used at chaotic St. Paul ICE protest

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A large crowd gathered in a St. Paul neighborhood Tuesday morning amid a federal law enforcement operation that protesters believed was an ICE raid.

ICE raid in St. Paul

What we know:

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry released an update via YouTube Tuesday afternoon. They were made aware of federal agents working a detail on the 600 block of Rose Avenue, and were called into assist when protesters broke the perimeter made by federal agents. Various law enforcement officers intervened so protesters could express their first amendment rights, and federal agents could do their jobs.

Federal authorities involved included ICE agents and a U.S. Marshals task force. Protesters held signs and called out anti-ICE chants as investigators worked inside a home.

The backstory:

Agents were on the scene at least through 11 a.m. Tuesday, but cleared the scene starting around 12:30 p.m.

As they left, police used tear gas to clear protesters who were blocking vehicles in the street.

What were federal agents doing?

What they're saying:

Homeland Security officials were working a detail to arrest Victor Molina Rodriguez, a Honduras who had previously been deported. Rodriguez has previous convictions for domestic abuse and disorderly conduct. DHS officials say he committed a felony by illegally re-entering the U.S. 

During the arrest, Homeland Security officials say a U.S. citizen used a vehicle as a weapon and rammed into an ICE law enforcement vehicle. The suspect fled on foot, but was later taken into custody. 

Agents at the scene did tell FOX 9's Corin Hoggard they were in the area looking for two people, one of whom ran away and went into a house.

Use of force by St. Paul police

What they're saying:

Chief Henry says reports came out that protesters were arming themselves with rocks and sticks. That prompted additional officers to respond to secure the scene.

Outgoing St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter spoke with protesters following the raid but told the upset residents that he didn't yet have all the details about what happened.

"They don't coordinate with us," the mayor said, saying they weren't aware of the raid until it happened. "They don't give us the information in advance… They sort of – what they do nationwide – pop up on the scene and create chaos and then leave. And then local communities are left trying to sort out chaos."

Protesters raised concerns to the mayor about the use of tear gas and pepper spray by St. Paul police officers working crowd control during the incident. Two state lawmakers, Reps. Athena Hollins and Liish Kozlowski, said they were pepper sprayed by St. Paul police.

Speaking with the media afterward, Carter said it was a frustrating situation for everyone involved. "Community members are frustrated. This is what we see ICE agents doing all over the country, showing up, creating havoc, creating chaos, and leaving local communities trying to figure out how to navigate the trauma they create. That's part of the troubling practice they create."

Mayor Carter said his office would review the force used by St. Paul police officers to clear members of the crowd during the protest. "I believe our police department is good at holding ourselves accountable for actions, making sure our actions fall within our use of force policies."

In a tweet, Gov. Walz said: "We are monitoring the situation in St. Paul and working to understand what unfolded. We received no heads up from federal authorities on this operation. While we are always willing to work together on public safety, that is clearly not what this chaotic situation was about."