FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco is facing allegations of stalking and false imprisonment after a Fresno hairstylist says she mistook him for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, followed him for approximately 25 minutes and confronted him outside his sister’s home.
Surveillance video: Kerman mayor accused of stalking man mistaken for ICE agentTHAT WAS CRAZY 1 (1)
Attorney Roger Bonakdar, who represents Eric Bridges, says the encounter happened Wednesday, Oct. 14, and was captured on surveillance video obtained by FOX26.
Another frame from surveillance footage shows the two vehicles near the home where Bridges says Pacheco followed and confronted him.
According to a written statement from Bridges, he was driving toward Kearney Park around 4 p.m. when an orange vehicle began following him. He says the driver took pictures of his white Mercedes before blocking him into a parking space.
A written statement from Fresno hairstylist Eric Bridges PDF previewPreview PDF
A written statement from Fresno hairstylist Eric Bridges detailing his allegations that Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco followed and confronted him after mistaking him for an ICE agent.
Bridges claims the vehicle then followed him from Kearney Park into Fresno, eventually reaching his sister’s home near Kearney Boulevard and Marks Avenue.
According to his statement, the driver circled the cul-de-sac, blocked his vehicle again and confronted him.
Bridges says the woman told him, “Don’t worry about who I am, I’m someone important,” before adding, “I’m looking for ICE and you look like ICE.”
Bridges says he later identified the woman as Pacheco after reviewing surveillance footage.
Six days earlier, on Oct. 8, Pacheco sent FOX26 a video of herself confronting someone she identified as an ICE agent in Kerman. That video has since received approximately 98,000 views on Facebook.
Bonakdar says Pacheco also livestreamed part of the Oct. 14 encounter. He claims Bridges has since received threats from people who believe he works for ICE.
“Other people have made direct threats to him saying, you know, I’m gonna come for you, because they think he’s some ICE agent that’s breaking up families,” Bonakdar said.
Bonakdar also says Bridges has been told he is not welcome at his grandchildren’s soccer games because of the accusations.
Bridges maintains he has never worked for ICE or the Department of Homeland Security.
Bonakdar has submitted complaints to the Fresno Police Department and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit, requesting an investigation into possible violations of California laws involving stalking and false imprisonment.
“My client’s hoping for full accountability, both through the public integrity unit to send a message that citizens are not a trampoline for political candidates,” Bonakdar said. “You can’t put people in harm’s way because you want social media clout.”
Pacheco, who is also running for Fresno County supervisor, has not been criminally charged in connection with the allegations.
FOX26 reached out to Pacheco directly for comment but did not receive a response.