Two staff members at a San Bernardino County surgery center have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of assaulting and interfering with United States immigration officers during an attempt to detain an individual last month.
Jose de Jesus Ortega, 38, of Highland, and Danielle Nadine Davila, 33, of Corona, face one felony count each of assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer. The trial is scheduled for October 6.
Court documents state that on July 8, two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were conducting immigration-related operations in Ontario. The officers were wearing law enforcement vests and driving an unmarked government vehicle when they followed a truck carrying three adult men into the parking lot of the surgery center. After exiting the truck, two men fled; one—identified as an illegal alien from Honduras—was partially detained near the front entrance before resisting and pulling away from an officer.
A medical staff member reportedly helped the man off the ground and pulled him away from the ICE officer. The man then entered the surgery center with the officer in pursuit. According to court records, Ortega and Davila, both in medical scrubs, intervened: Davila positioned herself between the officer and the man while pushing the officer and shouting “Let him go!” and “Get out!” Ortega allegedly grabbed both the officer’s arm and vest.
The situation escalated until additional ICE personnel arrived. Officers observed several staff members holding onto their colleague before ultimately detaining and handcuffing the man inside the facility.
The indictment notes that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. If convicted, Ortega and Davila could face up to eight years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations is leading the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Cory L. Burleson is prosecuting.
