A Paramount man is facing a federal charge alleging he threw pieces of cinderblock and injured a Border Patrol officer when a protest against immigration enforcement turned into a riot, the Justice Department announced on Thursday, Aug. 7.
Jacob Terrazas, 30, is charged with one count of assault on a federal employee by using a deadly and dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury, according to prosecutors.
Terrazas is scheduled to go to trial on Sept. 23.
According to the indictment returned this week and other court documents, Terrazas was one of several people who threw hard objects — including cinderblocks and rocks — at federal agents during a violent protest June 7 near a Homeland Security Investigations facility in Paramount.
Terrazas used both a makeshift shield and nearby trees for cover and repeatedly rushed toward the agents to throw remnants of cinderblocks at them, court papers allege.
One of the pieces of cinderblock allegedly thrown by Terrazas hit a Border Patrol agent in his left shin, injuring the agent and causing him to bleed, the Justice Department said.
The injured agent removed himself from the front lines to mend his injury but — after realizing he could still walk and stand — returned to the front lines. Another Border Patrol agent was struck by rocks but was uninjured, federal prosecutors said.
Terrazas — whom prosecutors say wore a dark beanie and black mask covering the lower half of his face — and others threw rocks at Border Patrol agents for nearly three hours, authorities allege.
Law enforcement used less-lethal force,including pepper balls, against Terrazas and other rock-throwers. Eventually, Terrazas was detained, identified and arrested.
If convicted, Terrazas could face up to 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors said.