UPDATE: Concerns Surround ICE Arrest in Queen Anne’s Co.
STEVENSVILLE, Md. – A recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest in Queen Anne’s County has drawn scrutiny.
Accounts from Law Enforcement
Around 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 21, the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office (QACSO) says Sheriff Hofmann was on routine patrol when he observed a Chevy Spark exiting westbound Route 50, crossing multiple lanes of traffic, before taking the off-ramp onto Route 8 at a high rate of speed. As the vehicle traveled north, into the intersection of Route 8 and Skipjack Parkway, the driver ran a solid red traffic light, colliding with a Toyota Highlander before also striking a Honda CR-V.
Further, the agency says two unmarked law enforcement vehicles, later identified as federal ICE agents, were in pursuit of the vehicle, and arrived at the intersection immediately following the collision. It is currently unclear as to where the pursuit first began. Sheriff Hofmann was immediately present on scene, due to his witnessing of the crash, and reportedly began rendering assistance to the involved parties, requesting additional emergency services to the scene.
QACSO says Sheriff Hofmann was not provided any specific details regarding the driver’s underlying arrest or detention by federal authorities, and maintains he was not made aware of their operations prior to the crash.
Accounts from Family Members
The pursued driver, identified by Maryland State Police (MSP) as Oscar Mejia, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries QACSO says he sustained in the crash. WMDT reached out to the MSP for further information about the crash, but was unable to confirm the extent of Mejia’s injuries.
However, Mejia’s family and community advocates have sounded alarms over his condition following Friday’s crash. According to family members’ posts on social media, Mejia — a student at University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne — was left with two broken vertebrae in his neck and a head wound before being transported University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Those same family members say they were turned away when they attempted to visit Mejia in the hospital and have not received any information about his current health status.
WMDT has reached out to ICE to confirm Mejia’s detention and current whereabouts and reason for detention, but has not heard back at this time. WMDT has also reached out to family members of Oscar Mejia to confirm additional details.
This article has been updated since its original publication on Aug. 24 at 5:08 p.m. WMDT will continue to provide updates on this story as details are confirmed.
