PHOENIX — A Peoria police sergeant was assaulted Tuesday during a federal drug investigation that protestors wrongly believed was related to immigration enforcement, officials said.
The officer had been assisting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) during the arrest of a suspect wanted on federal drug charges near Peoria and 71st avenues. Local officers were called in to manage traffic and maintain public safety, according to Peoria Mayor Justin Beck.
According to police, misinformation spread on social media led some to mistakenly assume the operation was targeting undocumented immigrants, prompting around 100 demonstrators to gather at the scene. Some of them reportedly wore black clothing, masks, and helmets — a tactic known as “black bloc” — to conceal their identities and provoke confrontation.
“This was not an immigration operation,” Beck said. “This was a drug warrant enforcement, and the actions taken by some of the protestors were clearly intended to create chaos.”
At one point, two people blocked the sergeant’s path as he attempted to leave the area and return to duty. One of them physically attacked him, police said. The situation escalated briefly, but the officer was not injured. The person responsible for the assault was arrested, and police are working to identify others involved in obstructing the officer.
Elected leaders across party lines condemned the attack. Governor Katie Hobbs said the violence was unjustified, while Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell emphasized that no cause excuses assaulting law enforcement.
“Making false assumptions is dangerous,” Mitchell said. “Regardless of the issue, attacking officers or anyone else will result in legal consequences.”
