Tren de Aragua gang member tried to choke agent during arrest in Bellevue, feds say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Authorities say a suspected member of a Venezuelan gang was arrested in Nebraska this week after assaulting a federal agent.

Gabriel Hurtado-Cariaco, 30, appeared in court Friday on charges of attempted murder of a federal officer and assault of a federal officer with infliction of bodily injury.

The government alleges that he is a member of Tren de Aragua who is in the country illegally.

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On Wednesday, agents with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations pulled over Hurtado-Cariaco near his Bellevue home.

They had an immigration-related warrant for his arrest, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

When they tried to place him in handcuffs, authorities said he started fighting with one of the agents, and both he and the agent ended up on the ground.

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Hurtado-Cariaco threw the agent off him, launching him into the air, prosecutors said.

The agent landed forcefully, hitting their head and elbow on the pavement, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The other agent then tried to subdue Hurtado-Cariac, but authorities said he resisted, and both of them landed on the ground.

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Hurtado-Cariaco then put the injured agent in a chokehold, prosecutors allege, and only stopped when the other agent put him in a chokehold.

He was able to break away from the second agent and run off, but authorities said they found him at his apartment and arrested him.

The injured agent was taken to a hospital.

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“The arrest and prosecution of this vicious Tren de Aragua gang member underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting our law enforcement officers in the line of duty,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a press release. “Violent attacks from terrorists against those who serve our communities will be met with swift and decisive justice.”

A judge ordered that Hurtado-Cariaco be detained and set a preliminary hearing for Tuesday.

If convicted, Hurtado-Cariaco faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to five years of supervised release.

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