Guatemalan indicted for assaulting federal officer

LAREDO, Texas – A 22-year-old citizen of Guatemala has been charged with forcibly assaulting a Border Patrol (BP) agent, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.    

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Josue Edilmar Ramirez-Pimentel. He is expected to appear for his arraignment next week before a U.S. magistrate judge in Laredo.  

The criminal complaint alleges that on March 11, authorities responded to call that six people were attempting to make illegal entry into the United States near Richter’s Ranch in Laredo. As they attempted to apprehend the group, several individuals ran back towards the river, according to the allegations.  

Ramirez-Pimentel, however, allegedly ran towards an agent. The agent then shined his flashlight at Ramirez-Pimentel and gave him commands in Spanish to stop and lay down, according to the charges. Ramirez-Pimentel allegedly did not comply and collided with the agent, causing him to hit his head on the ground.

Ramirez-Pimentel continued to struggle and struck the agent’s face with his forearm, according to the charges. The charges allege that as additional authorities arrived, they were eventually able to restrain and place Ramirez-Pimentel under arrest.

If convicted, Ramirez-Pimentel faces up to eight years in prison.

The FBI and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.