Lakewood Police arrested a suspect on Saturday after a Lakewood Standoff in the 200 block of South Ingalls Street, where US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents reported he rammed two of their vehicles and injured at least one officer on Saturday.
The incident began just before 10 a.m. when ICE agents called in a hit-and-run during an attempt to apprehend the man, who then fled his car and entered a nearby apartment.
Lakewood Standoff Centres On Community Safety, Police Say
The Lakewood Police Department said its officers arrived out of concern for community safety and a potential violation of local law, but made clear they did not engage the suspect or interfere with the federal operation.
A spokesperson said officers set up a perimeter around the block, allowing federal agents to handle the search while local police managed the street for a crowd of people began gathering near the scene.
'At no point did Lakewood Police engage the federal suspect. We were on scene for community safety purposes only,' the department said in a statement.
Several community members asked for help escorting family members out of the apartment building during the standoff, and police said, 'Our agents happily assisted and helped to ensure their safety.'
Standoff Slowly Fray
Lakewood officers left once it was clear their role had ended but the Lakewood standoff did not simply evaporate when local police drove away. According to LPD spokesman John Romero, officers were called back later in the day after reports of altercations and injuries near the same block. This time, Romero said, the purpose was to protect fire department medics who had been dispatched to the scene.
By the time officers returned, tempers appear to have frayed. The department has not described the altercations in detail, and no serious injuries were ultimately treated. Police say those who were hurt refused medical care and the fire crew left without transporting anyone.
Lakewood Standoff And The Federal Warrant Wait
ICE agents obtained a warrant as reinforcements arrived, allowing them to enter the building without local police crossing into their lane. SkyFOX captured federal agents approaching a second-floor apartment with a shield in hand.
Aerial footage captured by SkyFOX gives the only public glimpse of how the Lakewood standoff ended. From above, cameras showed clusters of people gathered on the pavement and in the street outside the apartment building, while federal agents moved in and out of the entrance. Later, the chopper caught what appeared to be the key moment: officers walking a man in handcuffs towards a waiting vehicle before leaving the area.
The suspect's car had struck two ICE vehicles, hurting at least one agent, according to the initial report. No details have emerged on the nature of the original target or the extent of the injuries. Officials have so far withheld any details about the suspect and have not confirmed whether he is currently in custody. US media had reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE and has not heard back as of this publishing.
