The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
On April 10, a woman was working a shift at the Days Inn in Panama City when someone wearing clothing giving the impression they were an ICE agent came to the hotel and asked for her. The employee noted that in addition to the outfit, the woman was carrying a walkie-talkie and a card that appeared to be from the sheriff’s office, causing her to further believe she was a legitimate law enforcement agent. When the employee was told she would need to accompany the woman to the sheriff’s office, she willingly got into the back seat of their vehicle.
According to reports, when they were in the car, the driver took the woman’s cellphone away and said she could make a call when they arrived. During the ride, the driver reportedly made comments about the passenger’s husband and told her she would be held responsible for his wrongs. The man’s wife, who knew where the sheriff’s office was, realized the driver had passed the location. The driver reportedly informed her that they were going to a different office, but instead allegedly drove the woman to an apartment complex and told her additional ICE agents were awaiting their arrival. When she was told to get out of the vehicle, the passenger was able to run away.