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Cal State Channel Islands instructor accused in indictment of throwing tear gas canister at immigration agents
A line of federal immigration agents and protesters stand off near the Glass House Farms facility outside Camarillo on July 10. Protesters gathered after federal immigration agents conducted an immigration raid earlier in the day.
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Larry Valenzuela
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CalMatters/CatchLight Local
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Topline:
A California State University, Channel Islands, instructor accused of throwing a tear gas canister at federal immigration agents executing a search warrant at a Camarillo marijuana farm has been indicted on federal charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.
The accused: Jonathan Caravello, 37, of Ventura faces one count of assault on a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon in connection with a July 10 incident. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
A CSU Channel Islands website lists Caravello as a lecturer.
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The incident: According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Caravello was among a group of protesters who gathered that day around the farm’s entrance and used their bodies and their cars to stop federal immigration agents from leaving.
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Cal State Channel Islands instructor accused in indictment of throwing tear gas canister at immigration agents
After Border Patrol agents rolled tear gas canisters near the protesters’ feet, one of them — prosecutors say it was Caravello — ran up and tried to kick one of the canisters. Moments later, he picked it up and threw it at the agents, prosecutors said.
LAist called and emailed Caravello but got no immediate response.
One account of his arrest in the Academe Blog, the blog of the American Association of University Professors, quoted a witness as saying several agents jumped on him “after he attempted to retrieve a tear gas canister lodged under a protester’s wheelchair.”
What’s next: Caravello, who is free on $15,000 bond, is expected to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
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