On Nov. 3, 2025, Durango Police Chief Brice Current asked the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to examine whether a federal immigration agent illegally used force after video showed the agent appearing to put a protester in a chokehold. The encounter occurred in Durango, Colo., a liberal mountain town of about 20,000, amid protests after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested a Colombian father and his two children. The chief said the footage suggested the agent’s actions were out of policy and potentially criminal; state investigators have opened a probe and will forward findings to local prosecutors.
Key takeaways
- Video from early November 2025 shows a masked ICE agent seizing a protester, Franci Stagi, 57, in what Chief Brice Current described as a chokehold; the chief requested a state investigation.
- The detained family: Fernando Jaramillo-Solano, 45, and his children, a 12-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son, were taken into ICE custody; Denver ICE later said the arrest involved mistaken identity.
- The Colorado Bureau of Investigation confirmed it is examining potential state criminal law violations and will send results to local prosecutors in La Plata County.
- Durango’s district attorney, Sean Murray, said he will weigh legal violations and possible immunity before deciding on charges; he warned any prosecution could spawn extensive litigation.
- Federal authorities have broad legal protections; the Justice Department has previously warned local officials against arresting federal agents, raising constitutional immunity questions.
- After the arrest, federal officers used pepper spray and crowd-control munitions to clear protesters; some demonstrators and elected figures were arrested at the scene.
- The family was transferred to a family detention center in Texas and remained in custody as local activists and lawmakers sought their release.
Background
Durango, a college town in southwest Colorado, has a small ICE office located in a building that once housed a car wash. The episode unfolded early in the week after ICE officers stopped Mr. Jaramillo-Solano while he drove his children to school; bystanders say the father shouted that his children were in the car. The arrest immediately drew dozens of residents to the ICE site, many linking arms and attempting to prevent the family’s removal.
Tensions between local communities and federal immigration enforcement have escalated in recent years, particularly in places with active asylum cases and visible immigrant-support networks. Officials in Durango and advocates for migrants described the family as having no prior trouble with local law enforcement; advocacy groups had been working with the family on an active asylum claim. Nationally, clashes between ICE and demonstrators have led to litigation and political disputes over federal agents’ scope of authority.
Main event
According to bystander video and interviews, the confrontation culminated when a masked ICE agent walked through a crowd of protesters and was confronted by Franci Stagi, who approached him with her phone and asked him to show his face. The agent struck at her hand, knocking away or seizing the device, and Ms. Stagi followed, demanding her property be returned. She said she briefly touched the agent’s back to get his attention; the agent then grabbed her by the hair, placed her in a hold and dragged her down a grassy embankment.
Chief Current viewed the footage and said the agent’s response appeared to exceed permissible force. Rather than pursue charges directly, the chief asked the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to examine whether a state crime occurred and whether state prosecutors could bring charges given potential federal immunity. The CBI confirmed it was investigating possible state criminal law violations and would pass findings to local prosecutors.
The protest escalated later the same day when more than a dozen federal officers, some wearing military-style gear, arrived to clear the area so the family could be removed. Videos show officers cutting chains protesters had used to bind gates, using pepper spray and firing crowd-control munitions; some demonstrators pushed back and threw bottles, according to footage and participant accounts.
Analysis & implications
The Durango case highlights a recurring legal and constitutional tension: whether state authorities can investigate or charge federal officers for actions taken while performing federal duties. The Trump administration and Justice Department have previously maintained that federal officers enjoy certain protections that can place them beyond the reach of state criminal processes when acting within the scope of their federal authority. That stance could prompt federal litigation if state prosecutors attempt charges.
If Colorado prosecutors receive CBI findings indicating a state-law violation, they will face a complex choice: pursue charges and risk protracted constitutional litigation, or decline and leave enforcement to federal authorities. Either path has political consequences—locally, for community trust in law enforcement, and nationally, as municipalities confront federal immigration policies. The local decision will likely be litigated up to higher courts if immunity is invoked.
Beyond legal strategy, the episode may affect how federal agents conduct operations in small communities. Public review by state investigators could pressure federal agencies to alter crowd-control tactics or bolster identification and engagement rules when operating near protesters, journalists and clergy. Conversely, aggressive federal responses to local scrutiny could chill municipal oversight and deepen community distrust.
Comparison & data
| Item | Durango incident | Recent similar incidents (select cities) |
|---|---|---|
| Local population | ~20,000 | Chicago/LA: hundreds of thousands to millions |
| Reported detentions | 1 adult (mistaken identity per ICE), 2 children (12, 15) | Varies; multiple arrests reported in several cities |
| State probe opened | Colorado Bureau of Investigation | Few known state prosecutions of federal agents |
This table places Durango’s episode in context: a small town incident with a disproportionate legal spotlight because a local police chief explicitly asked a state investigative agency to review a federal agent’s conduct. Nationally, state or local prosecutions of federal officers remain rare, and where attempted, they often trigger constitutional defenses and federal intervention.
Reactions & quotes
“It appeared to be an out-of-policy and possibly illegal use of force.”
Chief Brice Current, Durango Police
Chief Current made the statement after viewing protest videos and then referred the matter to the CBI instead of initiating local criminal charges himself, saying state investigators were better suited to navigate immunity and other legal issues.
“You can’t pull somebody by their head.”
Franci Stagi, protester
Ms. Stagi, the 57-year-old protester who was seized in the video, said she approached because she was trying to retrieve her phone and was outraged the two children were held by ICE for over 24 hours.
“If charges are filed against federal officers it will raise immediate constitutional questions and litigation risk.”
Sean Murray, La Plata County District Attorney
DA Murray said he will review CBI findings and consider immunity claims before deciding whether to pursue state charges.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the masked ICE agent will ultimately be identified and formally disciplined by federal authorities is not confirmed.
- It is not yet settled whether Colorado prosecutors will file state charges; any such filing could trigger federal legal defenses and fast-moving litigation.
- The full scope of the FBI’s involvement remains unclear; officials have declined public comment citing the government shutdown and ongoing inquiries.
Bottom line
The Durango episode crystallizes tensions between local communities and federal immigration enforcement: vivid video footage, a local police chief’s public demand for review, and the prospect of a state criminal probe into a federal agent’s conduct. While the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s inquiry is a notable assertion of state-level oversight, legal barriers—especially claims of federal immunity—mean a prosecution is far from assured.
Even if charges are not filed, the investigation will shape local debates about policing, protest management and federal enforcement tactics. For Durango residents, the case underlines broader questions about accountability and whether state mechanisms can provide meaningful review of federal actions in small communities.
Sources
- The New York Times (news media) — original reporting on the Durango incident