California Teen Tackled by Police Was Suspected Jewelry Thief, Not ICE Target
A dramatic video that circulated online over the weekend, showing a 17-year-old being tackled by law enforcement officers outside a cellphone store in Lynwood, California, initially sparked widespread outrage. Viewers and bystanders were led to believe the footage depicted an unprovoked ambush by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, with claims the teen was pistol-whipped while raising his hands. However, authorities have now clarified the incident, revealing it was a police operation targeting a suspected violent jewelry thief involved in a harrowing smash-and-grab heist.
Misinformation Spreads Rapidly Online
The footage, captured on Friday, showed undercover Anaheim police officers approaching and tackling the teenager near All In One Mobile Inc. Bystanders, convinced they were witnessing an ICE raid, shouted at the officers as the scene unfolded. Online, misinformation proliferated, with one X account falsely stating, "Footage shows an ICE agent pistol-whipping a 16-year-old boy in the face with a handgun as the teen appears to be raising his hands and unarmed." Another commenter declared, "He's a minor! And for no reason - How Nazi of ICE with a probable untrained German Shepherd." This rapid spread of incorrect information fueled public anger and confusion.
Police Reveal the True Nature of the Arrest
According to a spokesperson for the Anaheim Police Department who spoke to the Daily Mail, the viral video only captured the tail-end of a dramatic police chase. The 17-year-old was a suspect in a jewelry store robbery from late January and was allegedly on an attempted carjacking spree when officers approached him. The encounter was not unprompted; the teen had originally been in a vehicle but fled on foot, even breaking into a house to evade arrest. He jumped a wall and unsuccessfully tried to carjack a vehicle before moving onto a black Chevy, seen in the clip, where he was finally apprehended.
Inside the car he was driving, police found a gun, a ski mask, and a 'carjacking device'. The spokesperson noted, "He was up to no good, for sure," adding that the teen also has an outstanding felony in Los Angeles County unrelated to the jewelry heist. The suspect was booked into a juvenile detention center, and his arrest—like any involving use of force—is under investigation.
Connection to a Violent Jewelry Store Robbery
Police believe the teen was the last suspect in a terrifying robbery at Classic Jewelers in Anaheim Hills on January 23. In that incident, eight culprits were caught on camera driving an SUV through the store before jumping out and raiding shelves for expensive items. The owner, Ramzy Tabello, described it as the "scariest moment of his life" to ABC, saying, "It was chaos. I thought I was going to get shot or hit by a hammer." The robbers also stole a gun from the store.
The gang fled with $75,000 worth of stolen merchandise in two vehicles, which both got into crashes a few miles away in Fullerton during a police chase. The first car caused a multi-vehicle pile-up, injuring multiple innocent drivers. Four suspects were arrested at that scene, with jewels found scattered among the debris. SWAT officers detained all but one of the remaining suspects from the second vehicle; the one who escaped is believed to be the teen arrested on Friday.
Authorities Emphasize Coordinated Criminal Activity
Investigators stress that this heist was not an isolated incident. Anaheim Sergeant Eric Anderson stated, "This is not their first time doing it. By the looks of the video I've seen, this is someone who had a plan. They attempted that plan, but the outstanding police work from the Anaheim Police Department was definitely not going to let that plan go through." The suspects have been identified as Jose Andres Martinez-Colindres, 24; Leontrey Gipson, 23; Deondre Jones, 23; Tylaind Brown, 20; Khilen Toles, 20; Khamari Toles, 20; Latrell Mathews, 19; and a 17-year-old male juvenile.
The Anaheim Police Department's confirmation aims to correct the misinformation that spread online, highlighting the dangers of jumping to conclusions based on partial footage. This case underscores the importance of verifying facts before sharing content, especially in emotionally charged situations involving law enforcement.
