State troopers arrested Ramos on Saturday morning while he was walking his dog.
AUSTIN, Texas — City Council candidate Misael Ramos was arrested on Saturday morning in connection with last weekend’s protests against ICE in North Austin.
Ramos, a candidate for District 1 in East Austin, was arrested by DPS troopers and booked into the Travis County Jail at around 9:30 a.m. on a Class B misdemeanor charge of engaging in a riot. He was released on a personal bond of $1,000 on Saturday afternoon.
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In a statement, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said a warrant was issued for Ramos’ arrest after he was allegedly seen on camera during a protest taking construction barricades, sandbags and other items and attempting to obstruct traffic. Ramos’ campaign said he denies any criminal wrongdoing and intends to contest the charge.
“[I was’ literally walking my dog and the officer pulled up and he asked my name,” Ramos recalled following his release. “He said specifically ‘Are you Misael Ramos running for city council?'”
Ramos said a DPS van and multiple other unmarked vehicles pulled up. Ramos said his neighbor took his dog while another recorded the arrest.
“I want to say thank you specifically to my neighbor,” Ramos said. “[She] just so happened to be walking down the street at the exact same time it was happening. She recorded it on her phone as they were detaining me and taking me away.”
Ramos’ attorney Skip Davis said the case will now go to the Travis County Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether to move forward with prosecution.
Ramos’ campaign said the arrest was related to protests that followed Sunday’s shooting of Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez by ICE agents.
Garcés Pérez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national, was shot in the back and taken to Dell Seton Medical Center before he was released and placed into ICE custody. His attorney says a bullet remains lodged in his back, raising concerns about his medical care.
Congressman Greg Casar visited Garcés Pérez at the Pearsall Detention Facility on Wednesday and called for answers about his treatment while in ICE custody. Casar said Garcés Pérez remains in significant pain and may need surgery to remove the bullet.
At least four people were arrested by DPS and the Austin Police Department during Sunday’s demonstration, including for charges of rioting, obstructing a highway, resisting arrest and assault on a peace officer. Ramos’ campaign said additional arrests have been made on DPS warrants throughout the week.
The Ramos campaign, along with others from the Austin Lawyers Guild, Texas State Employees Union and Austin DSA held a press conference outside the Travis County Jail around 4 p.m. Saturday.
Hundreds of supporters attended.
Organizers mentioned what they call problematic conditions imposed on people arrested in connection with demonstrations, including bond conditions ordering people stay 200 yards away from the shooting site and the Texas Capitol.
“People have a constitutional right to gather, speak, protest, and criticize the government,” attorney and spokesperson for the Austin Lawyers Guild George Lobb said in a statement. “Arresting someone does not establish that they committed a crime, and pretrial conditions must comply with the Constitution.”