US EditionMinnesota authorities investigate arrest by ICE of a Hmong American man as a possible kidnapping
Officials say ICE officers may have committed kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment after mistakenly detaining a U.S. citizen, then releasing him hours later.
- On Monday, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Sheriff Bob Fletcher announced a criminal investigation into the January 18 detention of ChongLy 'Scott' Thao as potential kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment by federal immigration agents.
- Federal agents broke down Thao's front door without a warrant in January, dragging the 56-year-old outside in freezing weather wearing only underwear and a blanket before releasing him two hours later upon realizing he was a U.S. citizen.
- Homeland Security claimed agents sought two convicted sex offenders, but Thao denied knowing the men, and Minnesota Department of Corrections records confirmed one target was already incarcerated in a Minneapolis-area prison.
- County prosecutors issued a formal Touhy Demand on March 20 requesting federal records, setting an April 30 deadline; they warned DHS they may convene a grand jury or file suit if compliance is refused.
- The investigation tests federal accountability during Operation Metro Surge, following the administration's refusal to provide evidence in earlier fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this year.
89 Articles
89 Articles
Minnesota investigates ICE arrest of Hmong American man as possible kidnapping
A Minnesota county is investigating the arrest of a Hmong American man by federal officers that was captured on video as a potential case of kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment, officials said on Monday. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Sheriff Bob Fletcher said at a news conference they are pursuing information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that they need for their investigation into the arrest of ChongLy “Scott” Th…
County Investigates ICE Arrest of Citizen in His Underwear
A Minnesota county is investigating the arrest of a Hmong American man by federal officers that was captured on video as a potential case of kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment, officials announced Monday. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Sheriff Bob Fletcher said at a news conference they will pursue...
Minnesota county probing viral ICE arrest of U.S. citizen
A viral photo showed ICE agents removing a U.S. citizen from his home in freezing weather while he wore little clothing. Now, Minnesota leaders are launching a criminal investigation to look into the incident.
Local Minnesota Officials Probing Federal Agents for Alleged ‘Felonious Conduct’
The sheriff and top prosecutor in Ramsey County, Minnesota, announced on April 13 that they are investigating whether federal agents committed crimes during recent immigration enforcement operations. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Sheriff Bob Fletcher said the Department of Homeland Security has been uncooperative with their investigators. As a result, the county leaders said they may sue the federal agency to pry loose documents they are …
Minnesota prosecutor probing DHS agents’ arrest of Hmong-US citizen
Images of ChongLy “Scott” Thao spread quickly online as people saw the Hmong American man carried out of his St. Paul, Minnesota, home into the city’s subzero temperatures wearing only a plaid blanket and blue underwear. That arrest is the focus of a county attorney’s kidnapping and burglary investigation into several U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said during a Monday press conference that his off…
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