Concerns are growing in Memphis after a volunteer with a civil rights observation group was arrested while recording federal officers in Orange Mound on Tuesday night, October 28.
Carlos Ochoa of the local advocacy group Vecindarious 901 said the arrest occurred near Carrington Road and South Prescott Road, where the volunteer was observing what appeared to be an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest.
Ochoa told ABC24 that federal authorities advised the volunteer to cross the street if they wanted to record. Ochoa stated that the volunteer complied with instructions and maintained a distance of 25 feet from federal investigators prior to facing arrest.
“Once they crossed the street, they were violently attacked [and] tackled by other federal law enforcement agents unnecessarily,” Ochoa disclosed.
According to Ochoa, the volunteer was then charged with resisting government detention. He told ABC24 that all V901 members are certified legal observers, not interventionists, who constantly monitor ICE activity throughout the city.
“They are not deterred by what is happening. “This is only increasing the number of volunteer requests that we receive,” he said. “People are witnessing this firsthand, and they are appalled by the federal government’s actions.”
A local homeowner who wished to be identified as Marlon told ABC24 that he was surprised to see federal investigators operate in his normally quiet neighborhood.
“When I saw the people recording, I was like something got to be going on,” Marlon told the reporter. “I was like, ‘Wow.'” I thought they were meant to be in the inner city. I had no idea they worked on residential projects. “It’s quite shocking.”
Ochoa also expressed concern that federal law enforcement agents had not activated their body cameras since arriving in Memphis. He feels that this issue undermines accountability and reduces openness.
“[Body cameras should be activated] so that people can see the horrors, the terror, that these people are inflicting on our communities,” Ochoa told reporters.
Concerns about federal officers failing to use or activate body cameras are also being raised outside of Tennessee, according to Ochoa.
“This is something that’s happening in Chicago with the Midway Blitz,” Ochoa informed the crowd. “If you’re following the news in Chicago, you know that the ICE officials there, [and] Homeland Security, they are not wearing their body cameras as instructed by a judge.”
He advised elected officials to hold “Know Your Rights” seminars to educate individuals on constitutional safeguards and federal limits.
“This is truly a public education moment. “We need to know our rights,” Ochoa stated. “We need to understand that the amendments to the Constitution exist for a reason. They are there to safeguard us from federal overreach, which is happening right now.
Ochoa stated that V901 is waiting for an update on the volunteer’s legal status. In the meanwhile, he stated that V901’s crew will continue to observe and document government action in Memphis.
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