An off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent was charged with drunkenness with Long Beach police earlier this week after being asked to leave the bar.
Isaiah Hodgson, 29, was charged with three counts of resistance to arrest, one count of assault, and injured officers, several misdemeanor weapons offenses linked to the July 7 episode in the Coastline Village area, a busy tourist area in Queen Mary’s busy tourist area, according to a distant report in Los Anmelles County. Atti. Nathan Hochman.
“The Border Patrol agent Mr. Hodgson is responsible for upholding the law and protecting his citizens,” Hodgman said in a statement. “No one is beyond the law regardless of their position or badge.”
Hodgson was “off work, revelling, armed with a pistol” in the restaurant, when he entered the women’s bathroom and approached the women, according to a statement from the district attorney’s office. Prosecutors said the woman noticed Hodgson was carrying a gun and notified the restaurant staff. Outside the restaurant, a security guard approached Hodgson and asked him to leave because the property did not allow guns, the release said.
When Long Beach police responded to the scene, they determined that Hodgson was intoxicated and “don’t cooperate with their orders in an attempt to detain him.” Prosecutors accused Hodgson of “physical” with officials, one of whom was injured.
A spokesperson for the DA’s office did not immediately answer questions about the severity of the officer’s injuries.
Hodgson was released with his approval, but was not allowed to own a gun or leave the state, according to the DA’s office.
Prosecutors say Hodgson will face a state prison of up to seven years if charged. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Public Defender Office, representing Hodgson, was unable to comment immediately. Hodgson promised not guilty in a Friday arraignment and will return to court next week.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesman said in an email that the matter is being investigated. Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the Border Patrol answered questions about Hodgson’s mission or his role in the widespread immigration raids in Southern California that angered residents and created several lawsuits. Earlier this week, a lawsuit by federal agents led by the Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement landed at MacArthur Park, a militaristic show of force that ultimately led to Zero’s arrest.
While most Los Angeles-elected officials have severely criticized the Trump administration’s tactics in recent weeks, politically independent Hochman has clearly tried to stay away from political competition.
