Santa Ana officials, advocates and father demand charges dropped against arrested ICE observers

Elected officials, community advocates and relatives of two women arrested while observing federal immigration agents gathered Thursday to demand their release, the dismissal of criminal charges and an investigation into the Santa Ana Police Department's handling of the incident.

Madison Crabill, 25, and Adilene “Addie” Tonoco, 33, were arrested Wednesday, Oct. 14, outside SAPD headquarters after two off-duty federal agents reported that the women had followed them.

At the Oct. 15 press conference, speakers challenged the agents' allegations and accused SAPD of improperly assisting federal immigration enforcement.

“They watched ICE do what it does, and for that, SAPD put them in handcuffs,” said Karen Hernandez of the Orange County Rapid Response Network. “That is collaboration and that is retaliation.”

Fellow network representative Kelsey Gordon described observers as volunteers who sacrifice time with their families and risk their safety to document immigration enforcement.

“We are not asking SAPD to be a better partner to ICE, we are demanding that SAPD stop being one,” Gordon said.

SAPD's account disputed

According to SAPD spokesperson Natalie Garcia, officers received a request for assistance at approximately 1:26 p.m. Wednesday from two off-duty federal agents who reported being followed after leaving a federal building in Santa Ana.

The agents alleged that the women's vehicle blocked them in an alley, followed them toward the police station and ran two red lights. They also reported that the women parked behind their vehicle and shouted obscenities through a megaphone.

Garcia said the agents recognized the women from two federal operations in La Habra earlier that day and expressed concerns for their safety.

Crabill and Tonoco were arrested on suspicion of resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer, stalking and criminal conspiracy.

The allegations have not been established in court.

Officials question arrests and cooperation with ICE

Santa Ana Councilmember Jessie Lopez challenged the department's actions.

“Since when did watching government agents become grounds for arrest?” Lopez asked. “The public has every right to observe government activity and hold those in power accountable.”

Speaking separately with The Santanero, Lopez questioned the obstruction allegation because the federal agents were reportedly off duty.

“If you're going to claim that you're off duty, then how can they be obstructing your work?” she asked.

Lopez called for the women's release and urged city management to address SAPD's responses to requests from ICE.

Councilmember Johnathan Ryan Hernandez described the arrests as an attack on community rights.

“Santa Ana PD does not work for ICE,” Hernandez said. “It is not a crime for members of the Santa Ana community to ICE-watch.”

Councilmember Benjamin Vazquez pledged support for the women and other observers.

“We want to make sure that all ICE watchers know we are behind them,” Vazquez said.

Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento also criticized the department's actions, saying he was “heartbroken and disappointed” to see SAPD assisting federal agents. He argued that state and local policies restrict such cooperation.

Fullerton school board member Vanessa Estrella warned against intimidation of people exercising constitutional rights.

“We cannot allow fear to silence us,” she said.

Attorney raises possibility of false allegations

Sean Garcia-Lays, executive director of the Peace and Justice Law Center, who is assisting the affected families, questioned whether the federal agents' safety concerns were credible.

Garcia-Lays argued that the officers' allegations should be investigated and raised the possibility of “swatting,” in which someone falsely reports an emergency to trigger a police response.

“Santa Ana Police arrested the wrong people,” Garcia-Lays said, arguing that investigators should determine whether the agents' claims were truthful.

There has been no independent finding that the agents fabricated their allegations.

Isuri Ramos, director of Chispa, called for the charges to be dropped and urged Santa Ana's Police Oversight Commission to investigate.

“This is also a potential violation of the city's Sanctuary City Ordinance, which is very serious,” Ramos said.

Whether SAPD's actions violated the ordinance has not been established. California and local restrictions on immigration enforcement cooperation do not categorically prohibit police from investigating alleged state crimes reported by federal agents.

Family and friends demand accountability

John Crabill, Madison's father, said he and his wife raised their children to recognize injustice and act against it.

“My wife, Stacy, and I tried to teach our children to open their eyes to the many injustices they might see in this world and, most importantly, do something about it,” he said.

Crabill demanded that all charges be dismissed and called for documented refresher training on civil and constitutional rights for SAPD officers.

“They messed with the wrong two Americans this time, and we are going to hold you accountable,” he said.

Melissa Rios of LUCHA Costa Mesa described the women as dedicated volunteers who spent long hours assisting families, sometimes from 4 AM until after midnight.

“They only ever had love for this community,” she said.

Another friend, Emily, defended the right to observe law enforcement, while an unnamed supporter alleged SAPD had previously interfered with ICE observers.

The Santanero has asked SAPD whether officers have cited federal immigration agents for traffic violations and requested information comparing police responses to ICE-related calls from residents and federal agents.