POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. — The Point Pleasant Beach Police Department says it played no role in a federal immigration enforcement operation that ended when a man fleeing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents was struck by a vehicle on Route 35.
According to Police Chief Robert J. Kowalewski, officers were dispatched at approximately 9:05 a.m. Friday to Route 35 North near the west side train station platform for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian.
Police say ICE operation was already underway
During the investigation, officers determined the pedestrian had been fleeing ICE agents who were attempting to take him into custody.
“Upon further investigation, it was determined that the pedestrian had fled from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who were attempting to apprehend him,” Kowalewski said in a statement. “During the course of fleeing, the suspect entered the roadway and was struck by a motor vehicle.”
Police said the man suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene before being transported by the Point Pleasant First Aid and Emergency Squad to a local hospital for further evaluation.
Kowalewski emphasized that local police had no advance knowledge of the federal operation.
“The Point Pleasant Beach Police Department had no involvement in the ICE operation and was not notified of, nor aware of, any ICE enforcement activity occurring within the borough on this date,” he said. “The Police Department became aware of the situation only after officers were dispatched to investigate the motor vehicle crash.”
Second immigration-related incident draws attention
The incident comes weeks after another immigration-related case in Point Pleasant Beach drew statewide attention.
In July, Canadian national Kaitlyn Tracey was arrested after authorities alleged she assaulted a young girl on the boardwalk who was wearing an America 250 T-shirt. Following her arrest, Tracey was taken into ICE custody and transferred to a federal processing facility in Texas, where immigration proceedings are pending.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office was notified of Friday’s incident. Police said any additional information regarding the immigration enforcement action should be directed to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE.
