Man Charged with Assaulting Federal Officer with his Car

SAN DIEGO – Roberto Carlos Galeana-Guatemala, a Mexican national, was charged in federal court with striking and seriously injuring a federal officer with his vehicle while agents and officers were attempting to arrest him.

Galeana-Guatemala was charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon that inflicted bodily injury, and for being a removed alien who again entered the United States illegally. He was most recently removed from the United States on February 6, 2024, after his February 5, 2024, conviction for Bringing in Certain Aliens Other Than a Designated Port of Entry.

At his detention hearing today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian J. White, Galeana-Guatemala stipulated to remain detained without bond.

According to the complaint, at about 4:25 a.m. on November 12, 2025, federal agents from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) attempted to execute a judicially authorized federal arrest warrant for Galeana-Guatemala outside an apartment complex in National City.

The complaint said agents positioned their vehicles in front of the Honda driven by Galeana-Guatemala and announced “Police!” as they exited their vehicle.  Galeana-Guatemala began driving his vehicle in reverse away from the agents.

Law enforcement agents pursued the Honda on foot while verbally shouting “Stop!” and “Police” at Galeana-Guatemala. Additional law enforcement vehicles arrived and activated their emergency lights while blocking Galeana-Guatemala’s exit north.

Galeana-Guatemala attempted to maneuver his vehicle around the law enforcement vehicles but stopped approximately one foot away from the front bumper of one of the blocking vehicles. Galeana-Guatemala then drove approximately 200 feet from the initial parked location before coming to a complete stop.

According to the complaint, agents approached the driver side window and shouted “Police, don't move!” multiple times. Galeana-Guatemala momentarily paused before accelerating towards them, forcing them to scatter to avoid being hit.

Galeana-Guatemala’s vehicle then made a distinct movement toward three agents, one who was unable to get out of the defendant’s path.

The agent was struck by the defendant’s vehicle, thrown onto the street and underneath adjacent parked vehicles. The agent was hospitalized and has contusions, a possible sternum fracture and had to use a wheelchair due to continued pain while walking.  

After Galeana-Guatemala struck the agent, he continued to accelerate south and struck another law enforcement vehicle on the front passenger door, resulting in the door being inoperable, the complaint said.

When the defendant was found by law enforcement later in the day, he attempted to run away again but was apprehended in near the 3800 block of Fairmount Avenue, San Diego.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Lauricella.

DEFENDANT                                              Case Number 25mj6283-DDL                                    

Roberto Carlos Galeana-Guatemala              Age: 20                                 Mexico

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Assault on a Federal Officer – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 111 (a)(1) and (b)

Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine

Attempted Assault on a Federal Officer – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 111 (a)(1) and (b)

Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine

Deported Alien Found in the United States – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1326

Maximum penalty: Two years in prison and $250,000 fine

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Homeland Security Investigations – Marine Task Force

U.S. Border Patrol

U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Air and Marine Operations

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.