The proprietor of a Van Nuys automotive wash has filed a $50-million declare towards federal immigration authorities for allegedly violating his civil and constitutional rights in addition to for inflicting accidents he sustained throughout an immigration raid at his enterprise this month.
Rafie Ollah Shouhed, 79, a U.S. citizen, filed the declare on Wednesday, accusing federal immigration brokers of utilizing extreme pressure and displaying indifference to a critical medical situation, a violation of each his civil and constitutional rights.
The declare was filed towards the Division of Homeland Safety, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Safety. A declare often precedes a lawsuit.
Rafie Ollah Shouhed, 79, a U.S. citizen, filed a declare towards the Division of Homeland Safety.
(V. James DeSimone Legislation)
A Homeland Safety spokesperson stated in a written assertion that the focused operation resulted within the arrest of 5 individuals suspected of being within the nation illegally, together with one which had been deported twice in 2015.
The spokesperson stated the proprietor of the automotive wash “impeded the operation and was arrested for assaulting and impeding a federal officer.”
In a telephone interview, V. James Desimone, Shouhed‘s lawyer, denied the company’s allegation and stated his shopper was making an attempt to speak to brokers who as an alternative resorted to pressure.
“That’s defamation. They’re slandering him by saying he assaulted brokers as a result of there was no assault,” he stated. “This is part of their apply of accusing people who find themselves expressing any dissent to accuse them of assault.”
The federal declare stems from a federal immigration raid carried out on Sept. 9 on the Valley Automotive Wash on Van Nuys Boulevard.
Surveillance footage shared with The Occasions reveals a peaceable and quiet day on the automotive wash when an worker is seen dashing into the enterprise to warn Shouhed that federal brokers have been outdoors. Shouhed is then seen dashing outdoors to the entrance of the enterprise, the place within the brief distance he sees brokers chasing after employees.
Shouhed then rushes again inside, the place he comes throughout a federal agent who shoves him to the bottom and steps over him whereas persevering with to run outdoors. Shouhed slowly will get up and follows the agent outdoors to the entrance of the automotive wash, the place he sees the identical agent detaining one in all his employees.
Because the agent tries to take the detained employee away, Shouhed might be seen approaching the agent earlier than he’s taken to the bottom by one other agent as a 3rd agent rushes over to assist.
“This man might have been a linebacker and thought he was on Monday Night time Soccer, the best way he comes and takes a 79-year-old man and slams him down on the bottom. You may see the consequences of what occurred to his elbow,” DeSimone stated throughout a information convention held on the day they filed the declare.
DeSimone stated his shopper was making an attempt to talk to federal brokers to tell them that his workers had documentation to show they have been approved to work within the U.S. however that the brokers ignored him.
“The video reveals that is the best way ICE is working in our neighborhood — they use bodily pressure and don’t converse to the individuals with a purpose to confirm who was there legally with a purpose to do their job,” DeSimone stated.
Photographs of Shouhed’s accidents shared with The Occasions present a big bump on his elbow. Additionally they present a number of bruises on his arms, legs and wrists from the incident.
Rafie Ollah Shouhed, 79.
(V. James DeSimone Legislation)
“Within the course of, the brokers severely brought about accidents to Mr. Shouhed, together with however not restricted to a number of busted ribs inflicting extreme chest-wall trauma with in depth rib contusions (ache with respiration), and bilateral elbow accidents characterised by deep contusions and hematomas with marked swelling and diminished vary of movement,” the declare learn partly.
DeSimone stated his shopper might have been critically injured, even killed, if his head had struck the bottom. Because the three brokers piled on high of him, he stated they informed Shouhed: “You don’t f— with ICE.”
DeSimone stated Shouhed wasn’t making an attempt to impede the brokers however fairly give data to the brokers and defend his workers, the individuals he considers to be household.
He stated the brokers repeatedly ignored Shouhed’s request for medical consideration as he was having hassle respiratory. Shouhed had not too long ago undergone coronary heart surgical procedure, during which three stents had been put in, DeSimone stated. A stent is a small tube that helps open up a blocked artery.
DeSimone stated brokers additionally ignored Shouhed’s nephew when he requested that his uncle obtain medical therapy.
After the ICE and CBP brokers handcuffed Shouhed, they took him to the Metropolitan Detention Middle in downtown Los Angeles. DeSimone stated the brokers nonetheless refused to let him go after Shouhed confirmed proof that he was a U.S. citizen and that they continued to refuse medical consideration.
“Mr. Shouhed was launched after roughly 12 hours with out expenses,” the declare learn. “Upon his launch, Mr. Shouhed was taken to a neighborhood hospital by his daughter for excruciating ache from the impression to his chest and his torso, shortness of breath, accidents to elbows and contusions on each arms.”
Shouhed is continuous to obtain medical look after the accidents, the declare notes.
Requested throughout Wednesday’s information convention if he had something to say to President Trump, Shouhed informed reporters he had quite a bit to say.
“Be good to those individuals,” he stated. “They’re exhausting employees. They’re simply right here to make a dwelling.”
