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Etel Haxhiaj greeted cheering supporters outdoors court docket Wednesday. Probably the most critical cost in opposition to Ashley Spring, who was arrested through the ICE arrest, was dismissed.
The Worcester metropolis councilor who was charged with assault and battery on a police officer after a chaotic standoff between residents and federal immigration brokers in Might pleaded not responsible in court docket Wednesday.
Etel Haxhiaj, Worcester’s District 5 metropolis councilor, is dealing with a misdemeanor cost of assault and battery on a police officer and interfering with a police officer, Worcester District Courtroom data present.
“As each a mom and an elected official, I’ll at all times arise for my constituents, notably girls and kids. That’s what I demonstrated on Eureka Road on Might 8,” Haxhiaj, flanked by her members of the family and legal professional, informed cheering supporters outdoors the courthouse Wednesday. “I’m resolute and unapologetic in sustaining my innocence.”
Haxhiaj, who’s an immigrant, is one among two folks dealing with costs associated to a tense scene the place U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers arrested Rosane Ferreira de Oliveira, a Brazilian nationwide. Residents and neighbors confronted police, whereas Ferreira de Oliveira’s daughters cried and took turns holding a younger toddler, as seen in physique digicam footage launched by the Worcester police.
Ashley Spring was one among two folks arrested on Eureka Road. Spring was dealing with a felony cost of assault and battery with a harmful weapon, but it surely was dismissed, court docket data present, after the prosecutor admitted there was inadequate proof.
Lawyer Carlton Williams, Spring’s lawyer, mentioned Spring is accused in court docket paperwork of “spraying” an officer with an unknown liquid from an toddler’s child bottle, which officers on scene decided was simply water. Williams shared a picture of an officer on the physique digicam footage smelling the water within the child bottle.
“Child bottles aren’t harmful weapons,” Williams informed Boston.com, noting it ought to have been clear to police there was no harmful liquid within the child bottle, which was “practically full” after the alleged assault. “It’s half an oz. of water.”
“Persons are seeing very, very, very scary issues occurring loads nearer to residence than we ever see them, and individuals are popping out of their homes, individuals are recording issues with cell telephones,” Williams mentioned. “Persons are standing up in opposition to that.”
Additionally arrested was Ferreira de Oliveira’s teen daughter. Police later requested the fees, which included endangerment of a kid and disturbing the peace, to be dismissed “given the totality of circumstances,” Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier mentioned beforehand.
Haxhiaj is seen within the physique digicam footage holding the teenager woman earlier than the woman was arrested, whereas the teenager holds onto the sideview mirror of the automobile the place ICE put her mom. At one other level, Haxhiaj tries to carry on to the teenager woman whereas an ICE agent holds her in opposition to the hood of a automobile.
“You’re hurting her,” Haxhiaj says earlier than hitting the again of the agent’s elbow. The agent doesn’t flip round.
Dozens of supporters have been on the courthouse Wednesday for Haxhiaj’s arraignment, and supporters gathered for Spring as properly, Williams mentioned.
“The overwhelming variety of Worcester residents and People throughout the nation are against armed, masked males snatching our folks off our streets and neighborhoods,” Haxhiaj mentioned. “Whereas it’s disappointing and disheartening to speculate time, effort, and sources preventing these costs, it’s completely nothing in comparison with Worcester households dwelling in worry of being torn aside.”
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