A Venezuelan national, Edward Antonio Reyes Calderon, has been charged in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island for allegedly assaulting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation Officers during his arrest on an immigration warrant. Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom made the announcement.
The incident occurred on February 13, 2025, when Reyes Calderon, aged 22, was taken into custody outside the Rhode Island District Court in Providence. He had just appeared in state court on a Domestic Violence charge and was released from state custody on bail.
According to charging documents, three uniformed Deportation Officers attempted to arrest Reyes Calderon at the courthouse sally port. The officers were clearly identified with ICE/Police body armor and positioned near a law enforcement vehicle with emergency lights flashing. They announced themselves as police and instructed Reyes Calderon to turn around. When they tried to detain him by grabbing his arms, he allegedly resisted by flexing and pulling away from their grasp despite verbal commands such as “stop resisting” and “you are under arrest.”
It is further alleged that Reyes Calderon became aggressive during the struggle to apply handcuffs. At one point, he reportedly grabbed an officer's utility belt close to the officer’s firearm. After several minutes of resistance, pepper spray was used by an officer to subdue him.
Two Deportation Officers sustained minor injuries during the incident and required medical evaluation.
Reyes Calderon remains in ICE custody pending his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on charges of forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, and impeding a law enforcement officer performing official duties. A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In addition to facing domestic violence charges in Rhode Island, Reyes Calderon is also charged with Grand Larceny in New York State.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Peter I. Roklan and Taylor A. Dean.
