FOREST PARK, Ill. (WGN) — A pair of U.S. citizens say they were unlawfully maced and arrested Tuesday afternoon in a Chicago suburb after attempting to help a struggling man on the Des Plaines River.
Witnesses say United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were trying to persuade the unidentified man in the river to surrender, but not before the agents clashed with a group of concerned Concordia Cemetery workers.
“We thought he was in harm’s way because he was in the river and we’re trying to see what’s going on,” said cemetery worker Daniel Greer.
ICE agent: “Get on the ground, now!”
Worker: “For what?”
ICE agent: “Get on the ground!“
“Once they breached the gate, they pepper-sprayed us immediately, with their guns drawn, and then proceeded to tackle us onto the ground,” added cemetery worker David Eichler.
Worker: “This is private property!”
ICE agent: “Just open the gate, buddy.”
In a cell phone video obtained by NewsNation affiliate WGN-TV, federal agents appear to order Concordia Cemetery workers to open the cemetery gate onto private property to pursue a man in the Des Plaines River.
Worker: “He’s on the riverbank on the other side. He’s not on this side.”
Eichler, who, along with fellow cemetery workers, recorded cell phone video of the incident, bore the brunt of what appeared to be agents firing some non-lethal self-defense spray.
Worker: “The person you’re pursuing, are they on this property?”
ICE agent:” You guys are done!”
“I couldn’t breathe,” the 30-year-old Eichler said. “I couldn’t see.”
The Chicago native told WGN-TV that it would be hours before he and other workers involved received medical treatment, according to Eichler.
“Zip ties behind our backs, shackles on our ankles. We were just in custody until they came with the transport,” he said. “If this happened to me, a US citizen, who’s to say what they’ll do to somebody else?”
WGN-TV reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment, but has not yet received a response as of the time of publication. It is currently unknown whether the cemetery workers involved will face charges in connection with the incident on Tuesday.