ICE denies hitting California 'agitator,' accuses man of 'flopping for the camera'

Darrell Smith, The Sacramento Bee on Oct 21, 2026

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Federal immigration officials deny that an ICE agent struck a Woodland observer with their vehicle Tuesday calling the man an “agitator” who jumped onto the hood of the agent’s vehicle in a statement released Wednesday.

“This is false. ICE did NOT hit a pedestrian. An agitator jumped onto the hood of an ICE vehicle and the officer driving applied the brakes. The agitator slid off the hood,” a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said in the statement.

“Flopping for the camera is dangerous, especially when it interferes with a federal law enforcement operation,” the spokesperson said, using a basketball term to suggest the observer staged the collision. “Anybody who lays a hand on our officers or tries to obstruct them is committing a felony and a federal crime.”

The unnamed agent involved in the collision near College and Clover streets about 9:40 a.m. Tuesday contacted Woodland police after the incident, the ICE official said. Woodland police also said Tuesday that the ICE agent driving the Chevrolet Tahoe immediately notified dispatch and cooperated with local investigators.

Woodland Police Chief Ryan Kinnan said his department was examining the actions of both the pedestrian and the driver to establish what happened and would send its findings to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office. The department said it did not participate in the immigration operation and does not assist with civil immigration enforcement under California law.

Kinnan, in a statement following Tuesday’s collision, said he had viewed video of the incident, calling it “very troubling.”

“I understand why people in our community are upset and worried,” Kinnan said in the statement posted to social media. “Our responsibility is to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation to establish the facts. We recognize the concerns surrounding federal law enforcement activity in Woodland, and the safety and well-being of our community members remain a priority.”

Antonio Moreida, the community observer who said he was struck by the ICE vehicle, questioned the police investigation at Tuesday night’s Woodland City Council meeting and said another vehicle involved in the immigration operation appeared outside his home while he was being treated at a hospital.

Moreida was struck about 9:38 a.m. Tuesday near Clover and College streets while recording federal immigration enforcement activity in a residential neighborhood, according to Woodland police and video footage of the incident.

Video shared by NorCal Resist showed Moreida standing in the street recording an approaching SUV when its front-right corner appeared to strike him, knocking him to the pavement. The vehicle continued down the street.

It was not independently established why the second vehicle was in the area or whether federal agents were attempting to contact Moreida or his family.

Woodland city leaders condemned the incident at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, joining immigrants’ rights advocates and elected officials including U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, in calling for answers.

Woodland police said the investigation remained active and asked anyone who witnessed the collision or recorded video to contact the department at 530-666-2411.

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