A tense and dramatic situation unfolded in New York when federal officers said they arrested a man accused of violently resisting custody and attempting to grab an officer’s taser. The suspect, a 39-year-old Turkish national living in the United States without legal status, was taken into custody after what officials described as a dangerous confrontation.
Intense New York Arrest During ICE Operation
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the incident took place in Western New York during a targeted operation in Tonawanda, a suburb outside Buffalo. Officers were watching a home connected to their investigation when they noticed a vehicle leaving the area. They followed the vehicle and carried out a traffic stop not far from the New York residence.
Officers identified the driver as the Turkish national, who officials said had been living illegally in the country since entering the U.S. in 2023. ICE said the man refused repeated commands to step out of the vehicle, even after officers warned him that they would restrain him if he kept resisting.
The situation grew dangerous when officers tried to place him in custody. ICE said the man began physically fighting with them and allegedly grabbed an officer’s taser during the struggle. At the same time, he reportedly shouted the phrase Allahu akbar, which means God is great in Arabic. Another officer then used a taser to bring the confrontation under control.
Officers transported the suspect to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in New York, where medical staff examined him and cleared him for continued detention. ICE said incidents like this show the risks officers face during everyday enforcement operations.
New York ICE Officials Cite Prior Encounters and Criminal Charges
ICE provided additional background on the suspect, explaining that he entered the United States illegally in July 2023. Border Patrol agents first encountered him near Jamul, California, after he crossed into the country from Mexico. Immigration authorities later released him into the U.S. pending immigration proceedings, a step they commonly take when detention space is limited.
Officials also said the man encountered law enforcement multiple times after entering the country. Earlier this year, police in Pennsauken, New Jersey, arrested him on simple assault charges, although the court later dismissed those charges. That same day, authorities in Philadelphia arrested him again on charges that included assault, strangulation, and recklessly endangering another person.
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ICE officials in New York said these earlier incidents raised concerns about the risk he might pose. They explained that this history led officers to target him during the Tonawanda operation in New York because they believed he represented a threat to public safety.
After his arrest, the suspect remained in New York ICE custody as removal proceedings continued. ICE emphasized that resisting arrest, especially by trying to grab an officer’s taser, creates extremely dangerous situations for both officers and the suspect involved.
ICE Highlights Public Safety Concerns After the Violent Encounter
After the violent confrontation, ICE addressed the incident publicly. Officials said that any attempt to take an officer’s taser is considered extremely serious because it can cause harm not only to officers but to everyone present during the arrest.
The acting field office director for the Buffalo area described the suspect as a public safety threat based on his actions and his previous criminal history. The director also noted that ICE teams across the New York region will continue carrying out targeted operations aimed at removing individuals they believe pose risks to local communities.
ICE shared that none of the officers involved in the New York incident suffered serious injuries. They stressed that their officers regularly face unpredictable situations, and the struggle that took place during this arrest was an example of how quickly a routine operation can escalate.
At this time, the suspect remains in ICE custody in New York, where he awaits further immigration proceedings. ICE said it will continue to monitor his case while following legal requirements for detention and removal.
