Community rallies after federal agents ram car with kids inside in Boyle Heights arrest

Community members and activists are expressing outrage after armed federal agents in Boyle Heights rammed a car carrying children before taking a man into custody Wednesday.

Christian Cerna, 27, a U.S. citizen, was detained by agents from the Department of Homeland Security at 10:37 a.m. on the 3700 block of Whittier Boulevard, in a dramatic collision that activists described as a “kidnapping.”

Attorney Christian Contreras, who represents the family, said at a press conference Wednesday that he was planning to file a lawsuit against the federal government and agents who took Cerna from the scene.

“We’re here saying that we’re going to stand up,” said Contreras. “We’re going to fight back lawfully–through the courts, through our First Amendment rights, and through organizing.”

Surveillance footage obtained by Boyle Heights Beat shows an SUV and a pickup truck — both unmarked vehicles — crash into Cerna’s white sedan, trapping the car.

Soon after, men in protective vests emerged from the SUV and pickup truck, guns drawn, as smoke from a possible non-lethal grenade device surrounded the sedan. Cerna stepped out with his hands up. Witnesses said the agents abruptly took off with him, leaving behind his wife and two young children, who were passengers in the car.

In a statement to Boyle Heights Beat on Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security described the operation as a “targeted arrest,” alleging that Cerna was wanted for “punching a [Customs and Border Protection] officer.”

According to Contreras, Cerna’s wife has been unable to contact him and does not know where he is being held. As of yesterday afternoon, Cerna had not been located.

The Department of Homeland Security Investigations did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Cerna’s location or specific charges against him.

At Wednesday’s press conference at Salazar Park, witnesses, community activists, and clergy members described the incident as a troubling example of the militarization of Los Angeles. The event, organized by social justice group Centro CSO, drew a crowd of about 50 people.

Protesters gather on Whittier Boulevard to denounce the detainment of Christian Cerna by federal officials.

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Steve Saldivar

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Boyle Heights Beat

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East L.A. resident Melissa Herrera said she was horrified when she saw video of the crash and compared the incident to Nazi Germany.

“You see what’s going on in our streets, and it’s just very similar to the Gestapo rounding up people, and that’s what’s so frightening,” said Herrera.

Father Brendan Busse, pastor at Dolores Mission Church and member of the Boyle Heights Rapid Response Network, condemned the federal agents’ actions.

“We are here because we defend this community, because we love this community, because we are this community,” said Busse. “If you live as if everything is sacred, then it doesn’t matter what somebody has done. They don’t deserve to have their children terrorized as you arrest them.”

Immigrant Rapid Response Network member Enrique Vasquez said he witnessed the crash yesterday morning. He held up a flashbang grenade that he said officials used against Cerna and expressed his anger over the situation.

“We’re doing this because we love our community, because of a sea of love, but also because of rage,” said Vasquez. “We cannot stand still and not do anything because they have militarized the city of L.A.”

Boyle Heights Beat reporter Alejandra Molina contributed to this report.