Anti-ICE protester accused of pulling fake gun on DHS agents

Federal agents were forced to retreat after a violent, anti-ICE protester allegedly brandished a fake gun during unruly protests in Los Angeles — the latest in a slew of violent disruptors against law enforcement.

Peter Escalante Hernandez was a part of a wild mob outside Roybal Federal Building early Saturday morning, throwing glass and plastic bottles at Federal Protective Service agents, according to a charging document obtained by The California Post.

Federal agents attempted to apprehend Hernandez and a foot pursuit started. During the pursuit, Hernandez “brandished what appeared to be a firearm,” forcing officers to abandon the pursuit, according to the document.

However, a short time later, Hernandez returned to the scene of the protest where he was arrested and federal officers recovered a replica firearm, the document said. Hernandez has since been charged with assaulting a federal officer.

US Attorney Bill Essayli, whose office has ramped up the prosecution of law enforcement agitators, told The Post Hernandez’s arrest is just another example of the dangers facing law enforcement.

“These are not peaceful protestors, they are criminal actors. It’s unfortunate that increased law enforcement presence and safety barriers around our buildings are necessary to protect our attorneys, officers, and staff. We will not hesitate to deploy all necessary resources to keep our people and buildings secured,” he said.

Hernandez joins a list of more than 100 unruly Californians who have been arrested for shoving, doxxing and even throwing Molotov cocktails at federal agents since Homeland Security swarmed California last spring.

“Everyone has First Amendment rights, but there is a line. If you touch an agent, impeded them, or assist a fugitive, those are crimes,” Essayli told The Post.

Some of the most violent incidents of protesters attacking law enforcement are highlighted here:

Ashleigh Brown

Ashleigh Brown, 38, faced charges of conspiracy after she and two friends allegedly livestreamed themselves following an ICE agent to their Los Angeles home and shared directions to the house with their viewers.

At the house, Brown and her friend shouted “neighbor is ICE,” “la migra lives here,” and “ICE lives on your street and you should know,” federal prosecutors say. 

Brown, who hails from Colorado, was arrested along with SoCal natives Cynthia Raygoza and Sandra Carmona Samane.

The three allegedly posted the agent’s address to Instagram and told followers to “come on down.”

Adam Palermo

Adam Palermo, 39, was arrested for allegedly chucking rocks at California Highway Patrol cars as protesters took over Highway 101 in Los Angeles in June.

Authorities say one of the rocks caused a cop car to burst into flames, and “CHP SRT officers had to put themselves in danger from thrown rocks and bottles,” according to the Highway Patrol. 

Palermo faced federal charges of attempted arson of a vehicle used in interstate or foreign commerce, plus state charges of arson, vandalism, and assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.

Gustavo Torres and Kiara Jaime-Flores

Gustavo Torres, 28, and Kiara Jaime-Flores, 34, faced charges of conspiracy to impede or injure an officer after they allegedly used their cars to block the path of ICE agents fleeing a crowd of protestors trying to thwart their raids.

“The defendants allegedly pulled in front of one of the vehicles and slammed on the brakes, which the agents believed was an attempt to cause a collision,” according to a Justice Department statement.

José Francisco Jovel

José Francisco Jovel, 54, recently pleaded not guilty to tossing Molotov cocktails through the doors of the Los Angeles federal building. He was arrested and charged with attempted malicious damage of federal property.

Elpidio Reyna

Elpidio Reyna, 39, faced four counts of assault on a federal officer for allegedly hurling rocks at cops and police vehicles during the June protests in Paramount, injuring one officer and damaging several vehicles, prosecutors say. 

Reyna was briefly on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list before being arrested by police in Mexico south of the border.

Emiliano Garduno Galvez

Emiliano Garduno Galvez, 23, pleaded guilty to tossing a Molotov cocktail at Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies during a June protest in Paramount. 

A crowd of protestors had gathered at a Home Depot where ICE agents were preparing for a raid. 

Galvez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, lit the Molotov cocktail and threw it over a wall at the agents, but it landed closer to the protestors, nearly setting one of them on fire, prosecutors said.

Dennis Orlando Quiñonez

Dennis Orlando Quiñonez, 33, allegedly pulled up to DHS vehicles in November and threw rocks at their cars. 

Agents allegedly found an illegal firearm in his SUV — along with his 2-year-old daughter in the back.

Agents confiscated his car, gun, and daughter, according to CBS, and Quiñonez was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person previously convicted of domestic violence.

He was later released on bond and reunited with his toddler.

Essayli says his aggressive prosecution of people who disrupt these operations in California is why the state hasn’t seen the same level of chaos that Minnesota has faced during recent ICE enforcement efforts.

“The riots ended when we started putting people in jail,” Essayli told The Post.

“The initial hurdle was to change culture of the Department of Justice in this office. Traditionally, it was not a reactive office, cases are typically investigated over months or years.” 

“We had to adapt to be more like a district attorney’s office and do reactive cases, switching our culture and our procedures. We didn’t have a lot of issues with the court, they were reviewing warrants and signing them,” he added.

There are still some significant hurdles Essayli and his office still face.

“Organized disinformation by local media, the LA Times, all the fake media here in California would print false and outrageous accounts of what happened with immigration enforcement. It’s a full time job combatting it,” he said.

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