US citizen injured during California ICE incident, officials say

Long Beach Man Injured During ICE-Related Incident as City Seeks Investigation

Activelifezero.com – A Long Beach resident and former city employee was injured Saturday during an encounter involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement, prompting Mayor Rex Richardson to request an independent investigation and the temporary removal of the federal agents involved from enforcement duties.

Ricardo Gonzalez, who has told city officials that he is a US citizen, was found injured and in handcuffs when Long Beach police responded to emergency calls involving unmarked vehicles and an escalating disturbance. The incident unfolded on a one-way street after community members, including Gonzalez, contacted 911 with concerns about activity in the area.

Gonzalez had been riding an e-bike when an unmarked SUV traveled in the opposite direction of traffic, surveillance footage and witnesses indicate. Video shows the SUV entering the street against the designated flow before stopping abruptly near a man on an e-bike. The available camera view does not clearly establish whether the vehicle made contact with the bike.

After the vehicle stopped, several federal agents got out. Footage later showed Gonzalez on the pavement beside his e-bike while an agent restrained him. Two witnesses said they also saw the SUV moving the wrong way on the one-way street.

Police Find Gonzalez Bleeding and Restrained

Long Beach police said ICE personnel had called for assistance involving alleged vehicle vandalism and a person needing medical help. Responding officers found Gonzalez bleeding, handcuffed and being detained by ICE personnel. Officers also encountered what police described as a large disturbance involving a crowd and federal agents.

Richardson said Gonzalez had sought help himself after recognizing that events were becoming more serious.

“(Gonzalez) called 911 when he saw a circumstance escalating, and so he called and asked for assistance,” Richardson said. “When the police arrived, we know that he was detained. He was on a curb. He was injured.”

Witness Sherman Austin recorded portions of the confrontation after more agents arrived. The videos show Gonzalez handcuffed on the ground as an agent wearing a vest marked “Police ICE” held him down. Gonzalez can be heard calling for help and requesting medical assistance.

“Help me, my arm is broken”

“call a paramedic.”

Austin said he saw the unmarked vehicle strike Gonzalez before agents exited, used a Taser, injured his arm and forced him to the ground. Those allegations have not been independently resolved, and the city is seeking a full review of what happened.

Medical Treatment and Questions Over Federal Response

Police took Gonzalez to a nearby fire station, where officers removed his handcuffs. Fire department personnel then transported him to a hospital for treatment. Richardson declined to discuss Gonzalez’s present medical condition, pointing to privacy concerns.

Gonzalez’s daughter, Leslie Gonzalez, said her father is receiving care for his injuries. She established a verified GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical expenses and described him as a devoted provider for his family.

“My Dad is one of the hardest working men out there,” she wrote. “Because of him I have a roof over my head and I have all the opportunities around me. Our family is everything because of him.”

Officers remained in the area after Gonzalez was taken for treatment in an effort to calm the situation. After Long Beach police left, several ICE agents followed them to the police station parking lot, police said. The agents were instructed to leave and were told they could contact the department if they wanted to file a vandalism complaint.

Richardson said he was outraged by the incident and has spoken with Gonzalez and his family. In his letter to the Department of Homeland Security, the mayor called for an independent investigation and asked for the involved agents to be removed from enforcement assignments while that inquiry proceeds.

Former City Employee Had Worked for Long Beach for Years

Gonzalez worked for the city of Long Beach for roughly seven years. His most recent position was gas field service representative for Long Beach Utilities. City officials said he had been lawfully hired and described the circumstances surrounding the incident as deeply concerning.

The city has said it is taking steps to assist Gonzalez’s family. His citizenship status is still being independently verified, though Richardson said Gonzalez identified himself to the mayor as a US citizen.

The episode arrives amid heightened concern over injuries connected to immigration enforcement operations. It is one of several recent incidents involving ICE agents in which people, including US citizens, have been hurt. Earlier this month, a man near Houston was hospitalized with fractures in both legs after an ICE vehicle struck him. Federal immigration agents in New York City also shot and injured a driver days earlier while his 5-year-old child was present.

For Long Beach residents, the central questions now concern how the confrontation began, whether Gonzalez was struck by the SUV, the use of force that followed, and how federal agents responded after police arrived. The requested investigation is expected to examine video, witness accounts, emergency calls and the actions of everyone involved.