A change-of-plea hearing was delayed Wednesday for a Los Angeles man accused of assaulting a federal agent during an immigration protest in June.
Christian Damian Cerna-Camacho, 28, allegedly punched the officer during a demonstration in Paramount, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He had been expected to plead guilty Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court to a single charge of assault on a federal officer.
The hearing, however, was postponed until Tuesday.
According to prosecutors, when agents from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations tried to detain Cerna-Camacho for the alleged assault days after the protest, he attempted to drive away from them.
Agents used their car to chase his vehicle, pinning it between two unmarked vehicles on Whittier Boulevard in Boyle Heights, court papers showed.
Cerna-Camacho’s vehicle contained a woman passenger and two children in the backseat, officials said.
DHS released a statement explaining the June 11 operation was a “targeted arrest” of a man described as a “violent rioter who punched a CBP officer,” referring to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
“This was no hit and run,” the department posted on social media. “This was a targeted arrest of a violent rioter who punched a CBP officer. When Homeland Security Investigations tried to arrest Christian Damian Cerna-Camacho for the assault, he attempted to flee. He was ultimately arrested and taken into custody.”