Source: Office of United States Attorneys
LOS ANGELES – An illegal alien from Mexico who is living in Los Angeles was charged today with a felony count for allegedly spitting on a federal agent executing a warrant for his arrest earlier this week.
Omar Pulido Bastida, 41, of the Historic South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles, is charged with one count of assault of a federal employee, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison.
Pulido, who earlier this year separately was charged with being an illegal alien found in the United States following removal, was arrested and made his initial appearance on Tuesday in United States District Court in Santa Ana. A federal magistrate judge order him detained and scheduled his arraignment for July 16 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. He is expected to make his initial appearance in this case in the coming days.
“This defendant found out the hard way: When you spit, we hit – with a felony charge,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Law enforcement officers risk their lives and safety to uphold the law. To treat them with the disrespect, like this defendant did, mocks our great nation and such behavior will be punished accordingly.”
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on Tuesday morning, a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer arrived at Pulido’s residence to execute the arrest warrant on the illegal re-entry charge. After knocking on the door, the officer identified him as law enforcement with a warrant. Pulido, looking down on the officer from a second-story balcony, responded by insulting the officer.
Several minutes later, the officer saw Pulido open the front door, which had an iron security gate separating the two men. When the officer told Pulido there was an arrest warrant for him, Pulido said, “No, get out of here. I know my rights. I’m calling my lawyer” then spat through the iron security gate onto the officer. At the time, the officer was leaning his head against the grated security gate to be able to see Pulido and felt the spit on his face. After spitting on the officer, Pulido retreated back into the residence.
Shortly after, ICE personnel forced entry into the residence and found Pulido hiding in a second-story storage room. Pulido then said, “OK, you got me,” and was arrested.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney MiRi Song of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.