The Quakertown Police Chief is on leave amid the ongoing fallout after five teenagers and an adult were arrested after students and police clashed during an anti-ICE protest last week.

The borough solicitor for Quakertown confirmed with NBC10 on Friday, Feb. 27 that Quakertown Police Chief Rob McElree, who also works as the town’s city manager, was placed on workers comp leave.

This comes one day after tensions flared at a Quakertown Community School District board meeting as parents demanded answers following  a recent clash between police and student protesters.

Students arrested at ICE protest

At least five teenagers were arrested after students and police clashed during an anti-ICE protest in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, investigators said.

Earlier that morning, the House Principal of Quakertown Community High School, Dr. Jason Magditch, sent a letter to students, staff and families that the planned protest was canceled after the district received a report on Feb. 19 regarding potential safety concerns.

Despite this, around 35 Quakertown Community High School students still participated in the protest on Friday and walked out of class, according to officials.

Quakertown police responded to 5th and Broad streets in Quakertown around 11:35 a.m. that morning as the students marched in the area. Police said they warned the students to stay out of traffic. As the protest reached East Broad Street, some of the students began throwing snowballs at vehicles, kicking cars and damaging property, according to police. Police said they warned the protesters to remain civil at that point.

The protest then continued to Front and Juniper streets where the students blocked traffic and jumped in front of vehicles, police said. More officers were called to the scene and the students clashed with police, according to investigators.

Videos circulating on social media show confrontations between the students and police officers. Another video shows a student being led away in handcuffs.

Another cellphone video shared with NBC10 shows a man in a brown shirt – identified as Quakertown’s police chief – in a fight while being surrounded by students. The video also shows a second officer bringing someone to the ground.

Police said five to six teenagers and one adult were taken into custody.