UPDATE: Ontario resident Carlos Jimenez, 25, has been indicted on charges of assaulting a federal officer after a tense incident involving law enforcement on October 30, 2023. The federal grand jury has confirmed the indictment, which includes a sentencing enhancement for using a deadly weapon, placing Jimenez at risk of facing up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
The indictment comes three weeks after Jimenez was shot by an officer while allegedly backing his car toward law enforcement during an immigration enforcement stop around 6:30 a.m. on Vineyard Avenue in Ontario. According to court documents, Jimenez had initially approached the officers to inform them they were blocking a school bus stop before the confrontation escalated.
Jimenez’s attorney claims he was merely executing a three-point turn to comply with an officer’s orders when the situation turned violent. The officer had reportedly threatened him with a gun and pepper spray, insisting he “Get the … out of here.”
According to the indictment filed on November 18, Jimenez is accused of “intentionally and forcibly” assaulting a Customs and Border Protection officer, identified as victim N.J., while she was performing her official duties. The complaint states that Jimenez used his vehicle as a deadly weapon during the incident.
During the confrontation, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer drew his firearm and ordered Jimenez to leave. After holstering his weapon, the officer reached for pepper spray as Jimenez then accelerated backward towards the officers. Fearing for their safety, the ICE officer fired, striking Jimenez in the back of the shoulder.
After the shooting, Jimenez drove to his nearby residence in a mobile home park, where he later called 911. Although officers believed he committed a crime, they did not pursue him or provide medical assistance. This decision remains under scrutiny, as federal officials have not explained their reasoning.
Following the incident, Jimenez was arrested by the FBI at the hospital where he received treatment. Although prosecutors sought to detain him, citing flight risk and public safety concerns, a judge granted him release on a $10,000 bond on October 31, ordering him to wear an ankle monitor.
Jimenez is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Riverside on November 25. His defense attorney, Ayah Sarsour, has not responded to requests for comment. As the case develops, the implications for immigration enforcement practices and public safety concerns are significant, making this a case to watch closely in the coming weeks.
With emotions running high and public interest piqued, the community awaits further updates on this urgent situation.
