Driver fleeing ICE runs red light, injures Democratic mayor’s wife

BS BULLETIN:

Police say a driver fleeing an ICE stop sped through a red light and crashed into another vehicle in New Jersey.
The injured driver was Dr. Penelope Cohen, wife of Democratic East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen.
Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman responded to the crash: “Abolish ICE.”

A driver fleeing federal immigration agents ran a red light and crashed into the wife of a Democratic New Jersey mayor — and a Democratic congresswoman responded to the incident by calling for ICE to be abolished.

The crash occurred around 7:30 a.m. Sept. 2 along Route 130 in North Brunswick.

According to North Brunswick police, federal agents had stopped the driver before the motorist sped away, drove through a red light and collided with another vehicle. The driver then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot before being taken into federal custody.

The person behind the wheel of the vehicle that was struck was Dr. Penelope Cohen, wife of East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen, a Democrat.

Cohen suffered a leg injury and was treated at a hospital. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening.

ICE subsequently provided more information about what preceded the crash.

An agency spokesperson said agents were conducting a “targeted enforcement operation” involving an unauthorized immigrant who refused orders to leave the vehicle.

After repeated verbal warnings, according to ICE, agents attempted to remove the person from the car. The driver instead fled at high speed before crashing.

ICE said the person was arrested for violating immigration law and remains in custody pending removal proceedings. The agency has not publicly identified the driver or disclosed the specific immigration violation involved.

North Brunswick officials emphasized that local police were not involved in the federal operation or attempted stop. Township officers became involved only after the crash.

Then came the political reaction.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, the Democratic congresswoman whose district includes North Brunswick, posted a photograph from the crash scene and blamed ICE’s tactics.

“Today, it appears an ICE involved car chase resulted in an accident involving the wife of the Mayor of East Brunswick,” Watson Coleman wrote.

Her conclusion was considerably shorter: “Abolish ICE.”

New Jersey state Sen. Mike Testa argued that the episode demonstrates the need for cooperation between state and local authorities and federal immigration enforcement. He criticized Watson Coleman for directing her anger at ICE rather than at the driver who fled federal agents and ran the red light.

North Brunswick Mayor Francis Womack III, also a Democrat, offered a more nuanced reaction. He said he supports federal efforts to apprehend dangerous offenders but has concerns about ICE’s current enforcement tactics.