A Guatemalan national convicted of sexually abusing his stepdaughter is now facing federal charges after allegedly dragging a deportation officer down a Bloomington street with his car during a violent immigration arrest attempt.
According to a criminal complaint, Roberto Carlos Munoz, 39, was charged with assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon—a vehicle—resulting in bodily injury.
The federal officer suffered deep wounds and severe abrasions after being dragged nearly the length of a football field, all because Munoz refused to comply with a lawful immigration arrest.
Ignored ICE detainer let child sex offender walk free
In December 2022, Munoz was charged in Hennepin County with repeatedly sexually abusing his 16-year-old stepdaughter. He was ultimately convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony.
At the time, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer to hold Munoz for deportation proceedings. However, local authorities ignored that detainer and released him back into the public, according to the complaint.
On Tuesday, federal agencies, including ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations, tracked Munoz to his Bloomington residence and attempted to execute an administrative arrest warrant for his immigration violations.
‘Screaming’ officer dragged 100 yards
According to the complaint, around 8 a.m., agents pulled Munoz over after he left his home in a Nissan Altima. He refused to follow commands and only partially rolled down his window. When ordered to exit the vehicle, Munoz continued to resist.
According to the complaint, the ICE officer warned Munoz that he would break a window if he didn’t cooperate. After breaking the rear window, the officer reached inside to unlock the door. That’s when Munoz hit the gas.
The officer’s right arm was trapped inside the vehicle as Munoz “drove up on the curb and accelerated away at a high rate of speed,” dragging the officer roughly 100 yards while weaving through a residential neighborhood.
The officer screamed while Munoz ignored two direct taser shots that delivered full charges. Munoz continued weaving “in an apparent effort to shake the ERO officer from the vehicle,” according to the FBI affidavit.
The officer was eventually flung free after Munoz bounced off the curb and back into the street.
The officer suffered a deep laceration to his right arm that required 20 stitches, another gash to his left hand needing 13 stitches, and abrasions to his knees, elbows, and face.
Munoz fled, then called 911 on ICE
Even after dragging a federal officer, Munoz didn’t stop. He fled nearly a mile to a residence in Bloomington and called 911 himself, claiming he had been assaulted by ICE.
Local police detained him. He was transported and booked, and federal prosecutors immediately filed charges.
U.S. attorney: ‘No tolerance for violence against law enforcement’
“Law enforcement officers deserve our respect, our gratitude, and our protection,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson. “Defendant Munoz—a convicted sex offender illegally present in the country—violently assaulted a federal officer who was just trying to do his job. The injuries the officer sustained were severe but could have been so much worse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has no tolerance for violence against law enforcement officers.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin Winston added: “Munoz had no legal right to be in this country—and certainly not free in the community after a conviction for sexually abusing a minor. Instead of complying with a lawful arrest, he chose to violently resist.”
“This was a brazen and cowardly act by a criminal illegal alien who has complete disregard for the laws of our country and clearly places himself above the lives of others,” said Peter Berg, ICE ERO Field Office Director for St. Paul. “The deportation officer involved in this incident—someone who has dedicated his life to upholding the law and protecting this nation—was severely wounded by a fleeing suspect who should have never been in the United States in the first place.”
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
