Walmart Employee Charged After Intervening in Arrest
A former Walmart employee who attempted to stop border patrol agents from arresting an undocumented individual in Pico Rivera back in June has been charged by a federal court. Adrian Martinez, 20, faced a judge in Santa Ana on Wednesday, where he was charged with conspiracy to obstruct a federal officer concerning the incident that occurred on June 17, during a particularly controversial period for immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The incident went viral after it was captured on video.
According to the charges laid out in a three-page document, Martinez confronted the agents in the shopping center parking lot and tried to block their vehicle to prevent them from leaving. Prosecutors allege he was part of a growing crowd that surrounded the agents’ vehicle, making it difficult for them to carry out their duties. At one point, Martinez even moved a large trash can in front of the agent’s vehicle, effectively blocking it.
If convicted, Martinez could face up to six years in prison. He is expected to be arrested on Thursday in downtown Los Angeles.
In a statement, Bill Essayli, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, cautioned that interfering with law enforcement can lead to “serious, life-changing consequences.” Meanwhile, Martinez’s attorney expressed disappointment that the case hadn’t been dismissed and indicated they anticipated needing to challenge the charges in court.
In response to the situation, Miller Law Group, representing Martinez, called out the prosecutor’s office for sharing details publicly before the official notification of the indictment, suggesting it instilled unnecessary fear in their client.
During a June interview, Martinez recounted his experience of witnessing the arrest while on a break, claiming he intervened because he felt the agent was being overly aggressive. He described being roughly handled by the agents, leading to an altercation where they pushed him to the ground, and he argued with an officer brandishing a rifle. Video clips circulating online show this encounter, with Martinez asserting he was only trying to help.
After his arrest, Martinez was told by agents that they were accusing him of assaulting a federal officer, something he vehemently denied. He felt the agents were trying to coerce him into admitting guilt for an act he did not commit.
The next day, an official post about Martinez indicated he was still in his Walmart uniform at the time of his arrest and that he faced serious accusations of assault. However, the charges of punching an agent were not explicitly mentioned in the complaint.
Reports suggest that the prosecution initially hesitated to pursue assault charges against Martinez, indicating evidence was insufficient. However, within a short time, more allegations arose leading to the conspiracy charge against him.
A week after his arrest, Martinez appeared in an interview wearing a leg brace and reported that he had been injured during the confrontation. Walmart later cited him for “gross misconduct.”
Martinez expressed confusion about the escalation of events, stating that he was simply trying to stand up for someone else’s rights and believed no one should be subjected to such treatment.
