DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – The Des Moines Public School District is quickly putting an interim superintendent in place, after they say ICE agents detained the current Superintendent.
In a press release, they say Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents detained Dr. Ian Roberts Friday morning for being in the county illegally and in the possession of a loaded handgun. Federal law does prohibit those in the country illegally from processing weapons.
Dr. Ian Roberts(KCRG)
The DHS says after officers identified themselves to Roberts, he fled the scene in his vehicle. The vehicle was later found abandoned near a wooded area. State Patrol helped locate Roberts and he was taken into ICE custody.
A Des Moines Public Schools public safety officer was also there along with federal immigration officials and the Iowa State Patrol.
At the time, he had a loaded handgun, three thousand dollars in cash, and a hunting knife.
Authorities say they found a gun while removing evidence from a vehicle at the scene.(KCRG)
Roberts has a history of weapon possession charges dating back to 2020.
According to DHS, despite a final order of removal issued last year, he was employed as Superintendent without legal work authorization.
They did say they pursued their “Board-approved DMPS leadership succession plan.” Associate Superintendent Matt Smith has stepped in as Interim Superintendent.
The Des Moines school board says it has the “highest confidence” in Smith’s leadership during this uncertain time.
The statement said “Matt Smith, Associate Superintendent, will immediately step into the role of Interim Superintendent until further notice… Our priority is to provide a safe, secure and outstanding education for all students and to support our students, families, and employees. The appointment of Mr. Smith as Interim Superintendent ensures that our District continues to operate at the highest level.”
Roberts, originally from Guyana, South America, represented his country as a middle-distance runner in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He later moved to the U.S. and built a career in education leadership..
We’ll continue to provide updates as they become available.
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