Bronx Man Arrested And Charged With Physically Assaulting Federal Agent

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Office of the United States Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI"), Pete Gizas, announced today that LIBERTY MARTIN has been arrested and charged with physically assaulting an HSI Special Agent on October 8, 2026.

"Our Office will aggressively protect and defend our law enforcement partners against unlawful attacks," said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. "Assaulting law enforcement officers in the commission of their lawful duties undermines respect for the rule of law and threatens the systems we rely upon to keep us safe. This Office will not tolerate criminal interference of their sworn duties and will charge anyone who unlawfully jeopardizes the safety of law enforcement officers."

"The defendant stands accused of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, recklessly endangering the special agents on scene and the public they were sworn to protect," said HSI Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. "This alleged conduct was a direct attack on the rule of law and the safety of our community. Make no mistake: an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. Assaulting a federal law enforcement officer is a severe crime that carries zero leniency, guaranteeing that the perpetrator will be caught and that justice will be swiftly served. HSI New York, together with our law enforcement partners, will bring the full force of the criminal justice system to bear and ensure the defendant is held accountable."

According to the allegations in the Complaint:

On or about October 8, 2026, at approximately 6:45 p.m., in the Bronx, New York, a crowd of people, including MARTIN, surrounded an HSI Special Agent ("Agent-1"), who was responding following an incident between federal law enforcement officers and an individual in the Bronx. MARTIN physically assaulted Agent-1 by aggressively grabbing and ripping Agent-1's clothing. MARTIN and others then followed Agent-1 to his department-issued vehicle, where MARTIN again grabbed Agent-1's clothing. Other individuals then further assaulted Agent-1 by pushing him against his vehicle, grabbing his clothing, shoving his head and body into the vehicle, and slamming the vehicle door on him, causing a two-inch laceration to Agent-1's forehead.

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MARTIN, 42, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of physically assaulting an employee of the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of 8 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. McDonald thanked the Nassau County Sheriff's Department, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, and the Diplomatic Security Service for their assistance in this investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin McCarey is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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   As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.