INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — We’re digging deeper into reports of a joint raid conducted Thursday by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, ICE and Border Patrol.
In a social media post, the sheriff’s office said that multiple people were arrested in a joint initiative called Operation Stonegarden, the federal grant-funded program that IRCSO says they’ve been a part of since President Donald Trump’s first term in 2016.
WPTV's Michael Hoffman speaks with someone who witnessed part of operation
According to the sheriff’s office, eight adults were arrested on state charges, with at least two dozen detained and taken into ICE custody for further investigation. They added that one of the people detained Thursday has been deported four times.
Video sent to WPTV reporter Michael Hoffman and investigative reporter Dave Bohman by witnesses to the raid showed people with their hands behind their backs on the curb as law enforcement swarmed them.
In that social media post, the sheriff’s office said some of these people had previous charges for sex offenses, one was out of jail on bond and another had charges for the criminal use of personal identification information.
Hoffman spoke with Thomas Whittington, who saw just some of the operation take place. He told WPTV he’s really unsure how to feel about it until he can get all the facts.
“This doesn't look good, you know,” said Whittington. “I'm sure there's, you know, I think the Indian River County Sheriff came out and posted on their Facebook page of how they were, the guys were criminals. How many criminals, and they were parading it. And if that's the case. I am glad you know, but I don't know. Though, I don't know those guys. I don't know their criminal history. I don't know any of those specific situations.”
Hoffman reached out to the sheriff’s office and Sheriff Eric Flowers directly to get some more answers but Flowers was unavailable to speak.
He did release a statement in that social media post that reads: “We remain committed to safeguarding our community and today’s operation is a testament of our strong partnership with federal law enforcement agencies. Our goal remains clear — to keep Indian River County safe by identifying and detaining those engaged in criminal activity. Our operations only target those that are engaged in criminal activity.”
