Colorado DA Charges CBP Officer Over Hair-Pulling Assault At Durango Protest
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer has been charged for allegedly shoving a protester to the ground at a Durango protest. The charge was filed by the local district attorney after video and witness accounts of the encounter circulated. Prosecutors say the action met the elements of an assault under Colorado law and warranted criminal review. The allegation has prompted local interest in how officers interact with demonstrators and how those encounters are investigated.
The case highlights the tricky overlap between federal employment and state criminal authority when a federal officer faces local charges. Observers note such cases can lead to both criminal probes and separate administrative reviews by the officer's agency. Coverage so far has focused on the video evidence and calls for accountability, with advocates stressing consistency in applying force rules to civilians at protests.
đ Key Facts
- DA Sean Murray of Colorado's 6th Judicial District charged CBP Officer Nicholas Rice with third-degree assault and criminal mischief.
- The incident took place in late October outside an ICE field office in Durango, Colorado during a protest over a Colombian family's arrest.
- Video shows Rice grabbing 57-year-old protester Franci Stagi's phone, pulling her hair, and shoving her down an embankment; his initial court date is May 27.
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