Woman Who Tried to Impede Transfer of Alleged Gang Member to ICE Custody Charged in Assault on FBI Agent

WASHINGTON - Sydney Lori Reid, 44, of the District of Columbia, was charged by complaint today in U.S. District Court in connection with an assault on an FBI agent who was assisting with the transfer of an alleged international gang member at the DC Central Detention Facility, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Reid was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees.

According to the complaint, at approximately 7:30 p.m. on July 22, two men -- alleged members of the violent transnational 18^th Street gang -- were being released from the D.C. Jail into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Both men previously had been arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department, one of them on firearm related charges.

The FBI agent was assisting two ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers outside the jail when Reid walked up close to the officers and started recording video. After multiple commands to step back, Reid tried to go around the ERO officers, placing herself between FBI agents and one of the suspects being transferred into their custody.

As Reid tried to impede the transfer, one of the ERO officers pushed her against the wall and told her to stop. Reid continued to struggle and fight with the officer. The FBI agent tried to help the officer control Reid who was flailing her arms and kicking. During the struggle, Reid forcefully pushed the FBI agent's hand against the cement wall causing bloody lacerations.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Washington Field Office and the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Dernbach of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

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