Venezuelan tackled by federal agents in dramatic courthouse arrest in February

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Venezuelan tackled by federal agents in dramatic courthouse arrest in February

, Reuters - 6:56 PM ET 4/14/2025 default

(Reuters) - A Venezuelan man currently in immigration detention was arrested in February inside a New Hampshire courthouse by federal agents who tackled him and knocked over a bystander, surveillance footage showed.

Arnuel Marquez Colmenarez is in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in Texas, ICE records show.

Marquez Colmenarez had arrived at a courthouse in Nashua, New Hampshire on February 20 to be arraigned on misdemeanor charges, the Boston Globe reported. Marquez Colmenarez was then approached by two men who identified themselves as federal agents, who then tackled him as he tried to flee, according to the Globe.

New Hampshire Public Radio reported that Marquez Colmenarez faced charges stemming from an arrest for driving under the influence. Reuters could not immediately confirm the charges he faced. The police departments in Nashua and neighboring Hudson, New Hampshire did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Surveillance video provided by the New Hampshire Judicial Branch to Reuters showed a man wearing a sweatshirt bearing the letters "ATF" tap Marquez Colmenarez on the shoulder as he prepared to exit an elevator. ATF stands for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Marquez Colmenarez then turned to face the man, before turning around again to leave the elevator, the footage showed.

The man in the ATF sweatshirt and another agent then attempted to grab Marquez Colmenarez, and chased him into a lobby, the footage showed. An older man walking with a cane fell to the ground as the two agents tackled Marquez Colmenarez while arresting him, the video showed.

The surveillance video did not have sound.

Neither ICE nor ATF immediately responded to a request for comment. Marquez Colmenarez could not be reached for comment.

President Donald Trump has enlisted thousands of federal law enforcement officials from multiple agencies to take on new work as immigration enforcers.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

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