Huntington Park officials warn community after arrest of alleged federal agent impersonator

HUNTINGTON PARK, Calif. - Huntington Park officials are sounding the alarm after police recently arrested someone accused of impersonating a federal agent in the area.

Fake "agent" arrested 

What we know:

During a press conference on Friday, officials said the June 24 arrest of the suspect, identified as Fernando Diaz, "has raised urgent questions about public safety."

According to Huntington Park Police Chief Cosme Lozano, officers observed a gray Dodge Durango parked in a handicapped space in the 7000 block of South Alameda Street. There was no one inside the vehicle and there was no handicapped placard or license plate. The vehicle was also missing its front license plate. 

As the vehicle was being investigated for any violations, officers surmised the vehicle might be a plain-wrap law enforcement vehicle after they spotted two LED light bars hidden under the vehicle's sun visors, Lozano said. 

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Officers also saw several "police-like handheld radios" and a firearm magazine inside the vehicle. 

Once officers received the vehicle registration information, officers determined the vehicle was not registered to a law enforcement agency and rather it was registered to a person in the city of Los Angeles. 

That's when Diaz allegedly approached officers, claiming to be the owner of the car. Once he was informed the vehicle would be impounded, he asked to take some items from inside the car he claimed belonged to a friend. 

When questioned by officers about the items resembling those of law enforcement, Diaz allegedly claimed he used to be a security guard. 

Further investigation revealed Diaz had an outstanding criminal arrest warrant for drunk driving. He was taken into custody.

Officers continued to search the vehicle and recovered more items, including a 9mm semi-automatic firearm, two holsters, and additional ammunition for the firearm. Three cell phones, passports, and "official-looking" documents bearing the heading of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were also recovered. 

Additionally, a sheet containing CBP radio codes, passports not registered in Diaz's name, and other "miscellaneous items indicative of possible criminal activity" were seized by officers. 

When asked about these items, Diaz allegedly told officers he used to work for CBP, but could not provide any proof to validate his employment. 

According to authorities, Diaz has a prior arrest record related to human smuggling. 

He was arrested for possession of the allegedly unregistered firearm, but later released on $5,000 bail.

"Unmask Yourselves!" Mayor says 

Local perspective:

Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores addressed the "serious safety concerns" as ongoing immigration enforcement actions continue to take place.

"Across the region, residents are reporting encounters with individuals claiming to be federal agents driving in unmarked vehicles, wearing plainclothes and refusing to show identification," he said. "Who are these people? Are they bounty hunters? Are they vigilantes? These questions reflect a larger breakdown of trust and accountability in Huntington Park." 

"This kind of ambiguity is not only unacceptable, it's dangerous," he added. "When ICE and other federal agencies choose to operate in secrecy with no transparency. They don't just enforce the law. They incite fear."

According to Flores, City Council on Wednesday passed a resolution directing the Huntington Park Police Department to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a federal immigration agent in the city. 

"If you are acting with federal authority, then show it. Identify yourselves. Do not hide behind unmarked vehicles, face masks, and vague credentials," he said. 

Concern rises over masked agents 

Dig deeper:

Videos of ICE raids showing masked officers using unmarked vehicles and detaining people have sparked concern across California. 

Democratic lawmakers in California have introduced legislation aiming to stop federal agents and local police officers from wearing face masks amid concerns that ICE agents were attempting to hide their identities and avoid accountability for potential misconduct during high-profile immigration raids.

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State Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat representing San Francisco, and State Sen. Jesse Arreguin introduced a similar bill seeking to boost transparency and public trust in law enforcement. It also looks to protect against people trying to impersonate law enforcement, they said.

"We are seeing more and more law enforcement officers, particularly at the federal level, covering their faces entirely, not identifying themselves at all and, at times, even wearing army fatigues where we can’t tell if these are law enforcement officers or a vigilante militia," Wiener said.

Senator Sasha Renée Pérez has introduced the No Vigilantes Act (SB 805), which would require law enforcement operating in Caifornia to clearly display ID that includes either their name or badge number. The bill also authorizes law enforcement to request identification from someone claiming to be law enforcement if there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, such as impersonating a peace officer, or a valid safety concern. 

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According to Senator Pérez, the No Vigilantes Act is necessary due to "the rise in impersonation claims and the ensuing fear and confusion being created."

The backstory:

While U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has publicly condemned impersonations, the agency's use of face coverings and a lack of consistent, visible identification can create public confusion. 

This makes it difficult for the public to distinguish between authorized law enforcement personnel and potentially dangerous criminals. 

RELATED COVERAGE: Proposed CA bill would ban officers from wearing face masks

Ed Obayashi, a special prosecutor in California and an expert on national and state police practices, said Wiener's proposed legislation would be tough to enforce because federal officers can’t be prosecuted by state courts for activities performed during their official duties.

"If they are following federal directives, they are following federal law," Obayashi said.

The other side:

Republican federal officials have maintained that masks protect agents from doxing.

Todd Lyons, ICE’s acting director, has defended his officers using facemasks, saying they wear them to protect themselves from death threats and online harassment.

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"I’m sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I’m not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line because people don’t like what immigration enforcement is," he said at a news conference earlier this month in Boston to announce nearly 1,500 arrests in the region as part of a monthlong "surge operation."

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin from DHS released a statement saying, "When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by highly sophisticated gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13, criminal rings, murderers, and rapists. Attacks and demonization of our brave law enforcement is contributing to our officers now facing a 500% increase in assaults."

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