A protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Charlotte took an unexpected turn when federal charges were pressed against a participant. Heather Morrow, a 44-year-old resident, is facing allegations of assaulting a federal officer during the demonstration.
Incident Details
According to federal prosecutors, Morrow is accused of grabbing a federal officer’s shoulders and jumping on his back as agents attempted to carry out an arrest. They claim that Morrow, along with other protesters, was obstructing the law enforcement process outside the ICE office located in southwest Charlotte.
Defense Argument
However, Morrow’s attorney, Xavier de Janon, contests these allegations. He argues that video footage captured by community members presents a different account of the events. De Janon states, “I think any common-sense individual would conclude that no felony was committed, no crime could have been committed.”
Court Proceedings
After appearing in federal court on Monday, Morrow was released on bond. However, her attorney highlighted a significant issue regarding her release: the authorities did not return her cell phone and car keys. De Janon emphasized the difficulty of navigating daily life without these essentials, stating, “I want people to imagine a week without a phone. Suddenly released from jail, not having access to your contacts, your bank information, your email.”
Morrow is scheduled for her next court appearance on Tuesday at the federal courthouse in uptown Charlotte.
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