Criminal Charges and Incidents
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota prosecutors said Thursday that a federal immigration agent is wanted on felony assault charges after allegedly pointing his gun at car occupants after stopping beside them on a highway in the Minneapolis region. According to Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, this is the first criminal case against a federal officer participating in the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, which was a part of a massive surge into cities like Chicago, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. At a press conference, Moriarty stated, "There is no such thing as absolute immunity for federal agents who violate the law in the state of Minnesota," claiming that the agent's actions were outside the bounds of their power. Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, is accused of two counts of second-degree assault, according to an arrest warrant filed in Hennepin County, which covers Minneapolis. According to Minnesota authorities, the event happened on February 5 while Morgan, 35, was driving back to immigration headquarters at the end of his work. A car's driver and front-seat passenger reported to 911 that the driver of an unmarked SUV came up next to them, rolled down his window, and pointed a gun at them both. According to the warrant, the driver of the vehicle informed authorities that they thought it was a "crazy person driving down the road aiming guns at people."
Details of the Investigation and Reactions
There is an active nationwide warrant for Morgan's arrest, according to a representative for Moriarty's office, and no plans have been made for him to turn himself in. Morgan may spend up to seven years in jail if found guilty on each assault charge. Emails requesting comment were not immediately answered by representatives of the Justice Department or the Department of Homeland Security. When someone called a potential phone listing for Morgan, they informed him that the number was incorrect. A message that was sent to a potential email address for Morgan was returned as undeliverable. A message left at a number for someone who was identified as sharing an address with Morgan was not immediately returned. It was unclear at first if he had a lawyer who could represent him.
The Legal Context and the Agent's Account
During a press conference, Moriarty stated that as Morgan was driving an unmarked, rented SUV on the highway shoulder, another vehicle—whose driver was unaware that Morgan was an officer—also moved into the shoulder to try to slow him down. She claimed that Morgan drew up next to the automobile and aimed his service pistol at the two occupants after it had returned to the lawful lane. The victims snapped cellphone pictures of the SUV's license plate when Morgan merged his SUV back into traffic, according to the warrant. The victims are not named in the warrant. Investigators were informed by Morgan and his uncharged partner that they would be returning to the federal building used to stage cops at the end of their shift. Morgan "made no claim that he was conducting any law-enforcement operation or activity or responding to any emergency situation," according to the arrest warrant. According to the warrant, Morgan told Minnesota State Patrol officers that the other car "swerved over in front of him and cut him off." Morgan pulled his gun and cried, "Police! Stop!" because, according to investigators, "he feared for his safety and the safety of others."
