BROADVIEW, Ill. – The Broadview Police Department has opened a criminal investigation after a CBS Chicago reporter’s car was allegedly fired at by ICE agents with chemical munition on Sunday. The reporter said the incident was unprovoked, and no protesters were around.
What we know:
According to police, a CBS Chicago news reporter’s vehicle was fired at with chemical munition from the direction of the Braodview ICE facility on Sunday. The police said the attack was unprovoked and the victim declined medical attention after the incident.
In a statement, Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills said, “The Broadview Police Department expects the full cooperation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security into our criminal investigation.”
In a social media post, CBS Chicago reporter Asal Rezaei said, “An ICE agent took a direct shot at my car today. Absolutely unprovoked. My window was open and chemicals went all over my face. Been puking for two hours. There was not one protester in sight, I was simply driving by to check the scene out like I have been for weeks, about 50 feet from the entrance. Local authorities along with my news org are taking this very seriously. More to come.”
Dig deeper:
This comes a day after Chicago journalist Steve Held was also reporting at the facility on Saturday night and was detained by ICE inside the facility. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Held is the co-founder of Unraveled Press and has been working with The TRiiBE and other media to cover the protests.
Sources told Fox 32 that Held was released early Sunday morning and is back at home.
U.S. Border Patrol officials were also spotted walking around the Loop on Sunday. It’s unclear what the purpose of their patrol was.
Customs and Border Patrol agents spent another day cruising up and down the Chicago River on Friday – leaving onlookers and local officials confused as to how the marine effort plays into Operation Midway Blitz.
The Source: Details for this story were provided by the Broadview Police Department and reporting by Fox 32’s Paris Schutz.