Worcester city councilor charged with assaulting police in chaotic ICE operation
The Worcester city councilor who tried to block the arrest of a criminal illegal immigrant accused of assaulting her pregnant daughter has been charged in connection with the chaotic altercation City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj has been charged with one count each of assault and battery on a police officer and interfering with police during the controversial ICE showdown the Worcester Telegram Gazette first announced The Worcester Police Department sought three charges against Haxhiaj on May according to court records made available on Wednesday shortly after a district court clerk magistrate exposed probable cause to charge the councilor with two of the crimes during a closed-door meeting the Telegram published Haxhiaj joined roughly neighbors in responding to Eureka Street after the presence of federal agents in the residential neighborhood sparked anger on the morning of May The councilor had been called out for shielding Rosane Ferreira De Oliveira the target of the ICE operation Ferreira De Oliveira originally of Brazil is accused of hitting her pregnant daughter with a phone charger cable in an development this past February The woman allegedly entered the country illegally in August during the previous administration s open limit policies Body camera footage that the Worcester Police Department circulated a week after the clash shows Haxhiaj grabbing at ICE officers and mouthing Don t touch me She s heard shouting Do not take her You do not show any warrants get out of our neighborhood In a separate video from the scene Haxhiaj is heard telling a city officer I am trying to protect my constituent I have the right to be here I am the city councilor and I am protecting my constituents The councilor also revealed All you needed to do was just have one of us hold her and contain her You didn t have to take her Your use of force is unnecessary Haxhiaj was referring to the teenage girl who observers at the scene have explained is the daughter of the woman detained by ICE City police arrested the juvenile female on charges of reckless endangerment of a child disturbing the peace disorderly conduct and resisting arrest Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier has since petitioned the court to drop the affair against the girl given the totality of circumstances Haxhiaj s charges stem from the councilor allegedly pushing a police officer identified as Shauna McGuirk in the chest and pulling the officer s arm as she was making an arrest according to a message of facts filed by Worcester police Lt John Bossolt per the Telegram She is scheduled to be arraigned on July Worcester Police not initially at the scene responded to calls from federal agents who needed assistance in separating from an unruly crowd of roughly activists who surrounded them A day after the event the Worcester Police Patrol Officers Union demanded that the city perform an research into Haxhiaj s conduct saying that it believes the councilor broke her oath and ethical laws The conduct of this anti-police activist councilor is deplorable and unacceptable the union stated Regardless of political opinions or views city executives should never condone the assault of an officer and flat-out disregard to the point of violent opposition the authority of police to maintain safety and residents order Haxhiaj also caught the attention of the Department of Homeland Assurance Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin revealed the councilor pulled a political stunt and incited chaos by trying to obstruct law enforcement Just days later in an indirect notice Massachusetts U S Attorney Leah Foley warned that her office would investigate anyone who tries to interfere with ICE operations across the Bay State including elected personnel This conduct poses vital society and officer safety risks Foley noted It is conduct that should be vilified rather than glorified Worcester City Council Vice Chairman Khrystian King has supported his colleague saying he believes Haxhiaj evidenced moral leadership in her response and that she rose to the moment not for politics but for principle
