VIDEO: Worcester police knew ‘unknown liquid' sprayed during ICE arrest was water
Worcester police charged a woman they arrested during a chaotic demonstration following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, after saying she sprayed them with an 'unknown liquid.'
But body camera video released by the department shows that they already knew it was just water.
On May 8, Worcester School Committee candidate Ashley R. Spring was arrested by Worcester Police Officers on Eureka Street while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested a 40-year-old Brazilian mother of three at the same location.
She was charged on May 9 with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon — the 'unknown liquid' — along with charges of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct and interfering with police officers.
Lt. Sean Murtha of the WPD told MassLive on Saturday he is not aware of the department dropping any of Spring's charges despite police saying the liquid was water in the video.
The street had erupted into chaos that morning as more than 30 people, including Spring, confronted, yelled and demanded to see a warrant for the arrest of Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira.
Worcester Police Officers were also at the scene, and they arrested Spring along with Ferreira-De Oliveira's daughter.
Worcester officials released the body camera footage from the incident following pressure from the public, including a rally during which residents accused Worcester officials of assisting ICE in arresting Ferreira-De Oliveira.
Along with releasing the footage and 911 call from that day, City Manager Eric Batista issued an executive order to establish 'guidelines for local response and involvement in federal enforcement of immigration laws and operations including investigations and civil detainments performed by ICE officers,' according to a statement from Batista's office.
Police officers saw Spring push and shove other officers trying to arrest the daughter, according to a police report.
'Officers also observed Ashley directly point at and spray an unknown liquid in a bottle at officers that were on duty attempting to conduct their job,' the report read.
But Officer Juan Vallejo, who was the one who said he was sprayed, said in the video it was just water.
Vallejo was present on Eureka Street and was involved in the arrest of Ferreira-De Oliveira's daughter.
Footage and audio from Vallejo's body camera, which shows him and other officers surrounding the daughter and moving her to the ground, was made available to the public on May 16.
The footage and audio of two other officers, Officer Patrik Hanlon and Officer Shauna McGuirk, were also made public on Friday and uploaded onto the city's YouTube page.
During the arrest, an officer yells, 'You're under arrest for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.'
Following the arrest of the daughter, Vallejo turns his attention to Spring, who is standing behind him and being handcuffed by another officer.
At the 2:30-mark in the video, Vallejo approaches Spring and points his finger at her, listing charges for another officer: 'Disorderly, disturbance, and she sprayed me in the face with water.'
As he moves away from her, the audio catches Spring saying, 'It was water.'
Footage from Vallejo and McGuirk, who was also seen arresting the daughter, did not show Spring approach the officers.
Judge Janet McGuiggan entered a not-guilty plea on Spring's behalf. Spring was released on her own personal recognizance and is scheduled to return to court for a pre-trial hearing on June 23.
Following the arrest, Spring appeared at a protest in front of City Hall on May 13, calling out the actions of ICE, the Worcester Police Department (WPD) and the city's political leaders.
She criticized the city hall being closed to the public that night, the same night the protesters planned to attend the city council meeting before it was switched to a virtual format.
'While they may be afraid, we are not afraid,' Spring said of Worcester's leaders.
The city council meeting switched formats after the rally was announced. Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty said city officials received 'threats of violence.'
The daughter of the mother was charged with reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to the WPD.
Following her arrest, she was released from custody and is currently staying with family friends along with her 21-year-old sister, Augusta Clara Moura, Clara Moura's 3-month-old son, and her other sister, who is also a minor.
In a statement on May 16, Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier announced that the WPD is requesting that the court dismiss the case against Ferreira-De Oliveira's daughter.
Even though the department wishes to have the case against the daughter dismissed, Saucier noted, however, that 'it is important to emphasize that assaulting or interfering with law enforcement officers as they carry out their duties is never acceptable.'
City Manager Eric Batista also announced Friday an executive order on how the WPD responds to federal arrests.
'Enforcement of immigration laws is within the jurisdiction of the federal government, not the municipality and as such, municipal resources shall not be used toward that end,' according to a city statement.'The municipality and the WPD are committed to promoting safety in the community regardless of immigration status.'
As for Ferreira-De Oliveira, she is currently being detained at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, R.I., according to ICE's Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS).
Late home run lifts Buffalo past Worcester Red Sox
Mass. weather: Severe weather, chance of tornado, hail this afternoon
Smashed windows, street abductions: ICE gets attention with Mass. arrests
Read the original article on MassLive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
2 hours ago
Turkish authorities detain prominent journalist for allegedly threatening Erdogan
Istanbul -- Turkish authorities detained a prominent journalist for allegedly 'threatening' President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to state media. The detention of Fatih Altayli, whose daily commentaries on YouTube attract hundreds of thousands of viewers, comes amid a widespread crackdown on the opposition. State-run Anadolu Agency said he was questioned after his detention late Saturday over a comment he made following a recent poll that showed more than 70% of the public opposed a lifetime presidency for Erdogan, who has been in power for more than two decades. On his YouTube channel, Altayli said Friday he wasn't surprised by the result and that the Turkish people preferred checks on authority. 'Look at the history of this nation... this is a nation which has strangled its sultan when they didn't like him or want him. There are quite a few Ottoman sultans who were assassinated, strangled, or made to look like suicide.' An investigation was immediately launched by the Istanbul Public Prosecutors' Office. During questioning, Altayli denied threatening the president, according to Halk TV's website. It remains unclear whether Altayli has been released. Officials from municipalities controlled by the main opposition Republican People's Party have faced waves of arrests this year, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was detained in March over allegations of corruption.
New York Post
6 hours ago
- New York Post
Trump's support keeps growing while Democrats howl at the moon
California Sen. Alex Padilla recently crashed a press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He deliberately wore no identification. He gave no advance warning that he would disrupt her briefing. Instead, Padilla barged forward to the podium, shouting about the deportation of illegal aliens. Advertisement Immediately, Padilla got his media-moment wish — once Secret Service agents, who had no idea who he was, forcibly removed him. Alex Padilla unsuccessfully attempted to push past law enforcement to reach Noem's lectern. AP Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) recently attempted a pseudo-filibuster, speaking nonstop for 25 hours straight — not to delay legislation, but to fixate on President Donald Trump. Advertisement South Carolina Democratic state Rep. Julie von Haefen posted on social media an image of a bloody guillotine. It bore the title 'In these difficult times, some cuts may be necessary' and was juxtaposed with an image of a hanging, beheaded Trump, who, a year ago, was the target of two failed assassination attempts. The more Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom scream at Trump for nationalizing the California Guard to stop LA's nightly violent anti-ICE protests, the more the two appear on the side of those who riot, destroy property and attack police. Yet who really wants to side with illegal aliens who spit on and burn American flags while waving Mexican flags? Former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, along with other prominent Democrats, mocked the recent Washington, DC, military parade commemorating the 250th anniversary of the army, comparing it unfavorably with their own concurrent 'No Kings' anti-Trump protests. Advertisement Those demonstrations — subsidized by left-wing billionaire donors — were utterly incoherent. No other president has faced more lower federal court injunctions blocking executive orders than Trump. People march down Fifth Avenue at the No Kings protest against Trump on June 14, 2025 in New York. Zuma / Indeed, dozens of cherry-picked, left-wing district judges — the real unchecked 'kings' — now routinely block almost every one of Trump's executive orders. Advertisement Why are opposition Democrats not offering alternative agendas and compromises? Could they partner with Trump to allow green cards to illegal aliens who have no criminal records, have not been on public assistance, are now employed and have resided in the United States for over five years? Could Democrats meet with the president to express bipartisan support for democratic Israel in its existential war with theocratic Iran? Instead, why do Democrats throw two-year-old temper tantrums to howl nihilistically at everything Trump says and does? One, exasperated Democrats lack all levers of political power — the Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court. So, they take to the media and the streets. Two, Democrats are permanently frustrated that the more they scream and stomp, the more polls show radical declines in public support for their party. Three, their nemesis, 79-year-old Trump, seems impervious to Democratic lawfare, threats and smears. Advertisement Despite the hysterical attacks, he is still polling now about where prior presidents like George Bush and Barack Obama were at similar junctures in their second terms. The more Trump is smeared as a fascist or dictator, the more polls — like the latest liberal Economist/YouGov survey — show him gaining public support for securing the border and deportation. And the more the Left damns Trump as a racist, the more he wins unprecedented black and Hispanic support. Advertisement In recent Rasmussen tracking polls, Trump garnered 54% approval from black voters and 53% from Hispanics. Four, Trump proves a hard-to-hit, moving target for the frustrated left. He cannot quite be pigeonholed as a predictable right-wing bogeyman. Unlike the Left, when Trump weighs in on the Ukraine war, he first begins by deploring the tragic waste of over a million lives. No one is more pro-Israel. Yet he has offered a losing Iran a chance to negotiate its way out of total and humiliating defeat. Advertisement Trump talks nonstop about protecting the middle class. Unions like him; Wall Street mostly despises him. Trump wants to deport as many illegal alien criminals as possible. But he is willing to consider green cards for unlawful aliens who are working, crime-free and with long residence in the US. The Trump counterrevolution barrels ahead. The people cheer. And Democrats keep barking at the moon. Victor Davis Hanson is a distinguished fellow of the Center for American Greatness.
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Forbes
EV U.S. Sales Lag Will Reprieve ICE, Boost Hybrids
ICE versus EV getty Every other new car bought by Americans in 2030 was supposed to be electric, but as the Trump Administration clears away EV incentives and targets, the total is likely to be less than half that and offer a lifeline to gas powered vehicles and hybrids That represents an unexpected new lease of life for the likes of GM , Ford, and Stellantis brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram and their combustion technology. They were highly dependent on internal combustion engines and were either slow or reluctant to embrace EVs. A combination of tax credit rollbacks, emissions standards delays and the removal of the Biden Administration and its call for a 50% share for EVs in the new car market in 2030 is a boost for ICE. Manufacturers will also be busily raising production of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and extended range electric vehicles*. Consultants Roland Berger put it this way in a recent report. 'Delayed adoption of BEVs (EVs) will have cascading effects on the entire automotive value chain, prolonging profitability challenges for electrification-focused players and extending the window of opportunity for ICE-focused legacy players,' the report said. Analysts have been scrambling to slash their forecasts for U.S. EV sales in 2030. Investment bank UBS says EVs will only reach 24% of the new car market or 2.7 million vehicles. Four months ago UBS was predicting 32%. U.S. EV market share is currently around 10%. BloombergNEF now predicts 27%, down from almost 48%. Investment researcher Jefferies is even lower at about 20% along with Roland Berger. Roland Berger was projecting around 40% under Biden's watch. 'Actions taken by the Trump administration to loosen light vehicle emissions standards have effectively halved our forecast for U.S. electric vehicle adoption by 2030 – We now only expect about 20% BEV sales by 2030,' said Brandon Boyle, Senior Partner and Americas Automotive lead at Roland Berger. This compares starkly with Europe's ambitions. The European Union has decreed EV sales shall reach about 80% of new vehicle sales by 2030 on the way to 100% by 2035. Given current market share is barely 20% in Europe, some major humble-pie eating is on the cards. The Mazda MX-30 R-EV is an extended range electric vehicle equiped with a small rotary gasoline ... More engine (Photo by Sjoerd van) Getty Images / Sjoerd van der Wal 'The U.S. market has different dynamics (than Europe): more rural driving, less dense urban cores, and a political environment that could shift depending on the 2028 (Presidential) election,' said Curt Hopkins, CEO of MCQ Markets . MCQ Market says it is a FinTech firm making high-value assets accessible and investable. 'I wouldn't call it a comeback for ICE, but it's not going away overnight either. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids are still very much part of the transition-especially for consumers who aren't quite ready for a full battery-electric experience. Expect those to play a meaningful but gradually shrinking role through the decade,' Hopkins said. Bernstein Research analyst Daniel Roeska said at some point EV demand will accelerate again. Maybe after the 2028 election or after 2030. 'It (the expectation) won't be 50% for a long while,' Roeska said in an interview. '(General Motors, Ford and Stellantis) agreed that U.S. electrification will take a lot longer. Even if the target picture of high EV share in the U.S. has not changed, (manufacturers) are waking up to the fact that they must improve EV profitability without significant volume growth and maintain investments into legacy products for longer,' Roeska said in a recent report. Hard to bet against Tesla Tesla is the current EV market leader and despite a huge increase in competition and lower expectations for the overall market, is expected to retain its ascendancy, said MCQ's Hopkins. 'It's hard to bet against Tesla. They're vertically integrated, have a dominant brand, and continue to lead on software and over-the-air updates. As long as they maintain that pace of innovation, they'll likely still be the U.S. leader in 2030,' said Hopkins. According to Kelley Blue Book , the Tesla Model Y led the U.S. EV market in 2024 with sales of 373,000 and a market share of 28.6%, the Tesla Model 3 was next with 190,000 (14.6%). Then came the Ford Mustang Mach-E with 52,000 or 4.0%. 'That said, keep an eye on some dark horses. Chinese automakers like BYD and NIO are getting serious about international expansion, and if trade policy allows, they could become a factor in the U.S. by the end of the decade.' The All-Electric Ford Mustang Mach-E (Photo by) Getty Images 'Among the legacy automakers, Ford, GM, and Volkswagen have all shown real progress. Their ability to scale EV production and leverage existing dealer networks could help them close the gap, especially as more affordable models hit the market,' according to Hopkins. Twice the power, half the weight, half the cost He doesn't expect any game-changing battery technology before 2030, just incremental improvements in battery design. The long- promised solid-state battery revolution – twice the power, half the weight, half the cost - isn't close as researchers stumble over mass production techniques. And the trouble is that as consumers hear about this huge, imminent improvement, they are likely to be wary of buying an EV, and risk having its residual value torpedoed by game-changing technology. That could put the skids on EV demand as 2030 approaches. More bad news for EV makers came this week, courtesy of a survey of 15,000 drivers around the world by oil-giant Shell. The survey showed drivers in America are becoming more reluctant to switch to EVs from ICE vehicles. Those considering switching fell three percentage points to 31% compared with a year ago. In Europe, the reluctance was more ominous given the massive EV targets set for 2030. According to the survey, 41% said they would consider switching to an EV, down from 48% last year. Shell operates 75,000 charging points around the world including the U.S., Europe and China. *(Hybrids use computer power to combine for maximum efficiency with gasoline engines, and have relatively small batteries. They provide maybe 1 mile of electric-only driving. PHEVs have bigger batteries which can be charged independently and can provide up to 75 miles of electric-only transport. EREVs, like the Mazda MX30 R-EV, use small combustion engines to charge the battery. The MX30 R-EV is always powered by electricity.)
