Eduardo Cruz Garcia, 39, has been charged in federal court after prosecutors said he hit and injured an ICE agent with a white van during a traffic stop in Manahawkin, New Jersey. The ICE agent, who has not been publicly named, suffered injuries to his thigh and shin and was treated at a hospital.
The latest court update came after Cruz Garcia appeared in federal court in Trenton and was ordered detained. Federal prosecutors said he was charged by criminal complaint with assaulting a federal officer while the officer was performing official duties and inflicting bodily injury.
Van Stop Turns Violent In Manahawkin
The incident happened on June 15 during an ICE operation in Manahawkin, a community in Stafford Township near the Jersey Shore. The area sits along Route 72, a busy route for drivers heading toward Long Beach Island.
Federal officials said ICE agents stopped a white van driven by Cruz Garcia as part of an investigation. A passenger was inside the van. Prosecutors allege multiple agents wearing vests marked “ICE Police” surrounded the van with law enforcement vehicles. Agents then approached from both the driver’s side and the passenger’s side.
The agents tried to speak with Cruz Garcia and the passenger, officials said. They asked the occupants to open the windows. Prosecutors allege they refused. Moments later, the stop escalated.
Prosecutors Say Agent Was Pinned
Federal prosecutors allege Cruz Garcia drove the van forward while an ICE agent stood beside it. The van allegedly struck the agent and pinned him between the van and an ICE vehicle. The agent fell to the ground and yelled in pain, prosecutors said.
Cruz Garcia allegedly kept driving and struck another ICE vehicle parked nearby before leaving the scene. The agent’s injuries required hospital care, officials said. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said photos included in the case showed visible injuries to the agent’s leg. Prosecutors described injuries to the thigh and shin.
Cruz Garcia has not been convicted. The charge is an accusation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
ICE Agent Fired During Encounter
Police said the ICE agent fired his gun after being struck by the vehicle. AP reported that Stafford Township police said the gunfire possibly struck the vehicle as it left the scene. Early police information did not confirm whether the driver or passenger had been hit. Police said at the time that there was no known continuing danger to the public.
Photos from the scene showed a masked federal agent sitting on the ground near a vehicle bumper before being placed on a stretcher.
NBC10 Philadelphia reported that surveillance video showed agents surrounding the van before the driver forced the vehicle through the tight space. A local witness told the station the driver appeared to inch forward before accelerating.
The firing of the agent’s weapon remains part of the investigation. Officials have not publicly released a full frame-by-frame account of the shooting.
The original target was another man
The ICE operation was reportedly aimed at someone else, not Cruz Garcia.
Federal officials identified the original target as Friedrich Castillo-Ormeno, a Peruvian immigrant who had been ordered removed by an immigration judge earlier this year. Officials said agents were conducting a targeted vehicle stop in Manahawkin when the encounter unfolded.
ABC7 New York reported that ICE said Castillo-Ormeno had received a final removal order and that officers were trying to arrest him during the operation. The station also reported Stafford Township police said there was no public safety concern after the incident.
CNN reported that federal officials later said Castillo-Ormeno had chosen to self-deport through a federal program that offers travel help and a payment to undocumented immigrants who leave the United States voluntarily.
It is not publicly clear whether Castillo-Ormeno was inside the van during the stop.
Court Case Moves To Federal Level
The case is now being handled in federal court in New Jersey. Cruz Garcia appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn in Trenton and was ordered detained. Federal prosecutors said the charge carries a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if Cruz Garcia is convicted. A maximum sentence is not a prediction of what a judge would impose.
The final outcome would depend on the evidence, the charge, any plea agreement, sentencing guidelines, criminal history, and the judge’s findings.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Suggs of the Criminal Division in Trenton. Defense counsel is Benjamin West, an assistant federal public defender. CNN reported that West declined to comment.
FBI And Local Agencies Assisted
The FBI is credited with leading the investigation that resulted in the charge. Federal prosecutors also thanked Homeland Security Investigations, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and Stafford Township police for assistance.
Stafford Township police were not initially part of the ICE operation, according to early reports. Local officers helped secure the area and manage traffic after the incident. That distinction matters because local police and federal immigration officers often perform separate roles during enforcement actions in New Jersey.
Evidence May Define The Case
The complaint references reports, witness information, law enforcement statements, and evidence reviewed by investigators. Body-camera imagery and surveillance video may become important as the case advances.
Attorneys may examine how agents identified the van, what they knew before the stop, where the ICE vehicles were positioned, and how close the agent was when the van moved forward.
The defense may also challenge the government’s account of intent. Prosecutors will likely argue the driver used the van as a force against a federal agent. A defense response could focus on confusion, visibility, vehicle placement, or whether prosecutors can prove the required mental state.
The agent’s gunfire may also receive scrutiny. Investigators will likely review where the agent was standing, when shots were fired, and whether the vehicle showed bullet damage.
Charge Remains An Allegation
Federal officials have framed the case as a serious assault on a law enforcement officer. Prosecutors said the agent was injured while performing official duties and that Cruz Garcia fled after striking the agent and another ICE vehicle.
Cruz Garcia remains in federal custody as the case proceeds. The court record will determine the next steps, including whether prosecutors seek an indictment, whether the defense files motions, or whether the case moves toward a plea or trial.
