Ontario police deny participating in immigration enforcement after a federal operation outside a Stater Bros. grocery store earlier this week led to the brief on-site detention of a U.S. citizen.
In a video released Thursday, the department said its officers responded only after a federal agent reported being assaulted. But immigrant rights advocates say the department’s explanation still leaves some questions unanswered.
A video posted online from Monday’s incident shows officers arresting a person near an apartment complex down the street from the store at San Antonio Avenue and Holt Boulevard. Another clip shows officers exiting the store’s employee-only area.
In the department’s video, Lt. Joe Estrada shares details of the incident, including a recorded 9-1-1 call from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official in Los Angeles, who reported that someone had thrown hot coffee on an officer. Estrada said a helicopter unit saw two agents fighting with a suspect one block north of the store.
“Our officers assessed the situation and discovered federal agents had apprehended the individual they believed was responsible for the assault,” said Estrada.
Estrada said it was later discovered that there was a second person who poured a drink on their agent's vehicle. That person is U.S. citizen Angel Piña, who was later released after a supervisor intervened, according to ABC7.
"He was the one apprehended for this incident, and it was completely unrelated to his legal status," said Estrada.
We wanted to take a moment to address our community about a recent incident involving ICE. Any inquiries related to the enforcement actions of this incident should be directed to the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement at ICEMedia@ice.dhs.gov.https://t.co/80wGwYTW8L
— Ontario Police Department (@OntarioPD) July 24, 2025
But Luis Suarez, a small business owner and immigrant rights advocate in Ontario, says the police department’s statements don’t align with what happened on the ground.
“Ontario PD can’t deny involvement," said Suarez. "In one case, they were present during an arrest. In another, they were essentially acting as a security team for ICE agents entering the Stater Bros.”
Suarez says ICE and FBI agents entered the store around 10 a.m. Monday and arrested two people, including Piña. Suarez, part of an immigration rapid response team, interviewed witnesses and the families of those involved.
“Officials keep referencing the Stater Bros. incident, but there were multiple events,” said Suarez. “One involved the U.S. citizen who was picked up on Vesta Street, just north of the store. Another involved someone who allegedly ran into the store and wasn’t detained.”
ICE said in a statement that officers tried to arrest Carlos Gutierrez Caroenas, who faces charges of domestic battery and driving with a suspended license.
“When Carlos Gutierrez Caroenas exited the donut shop, ICE officers clearly identified themselves and approached him,” reads a statement from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “The criminal illegal alien assaulted the officer by throwing hot coffee on the officer’s face and arm, causing severe pain. ICE law enforcement chased him on foot to Stater Bros. Market, where management obstructed the arrest by refusing to allow officers to search the store’s bathroom—letting the criminal free.”
McLaughlin also shared that Caroenas attempted to enter the country twice in the late 1990s and was arrested and immediately removed both times, but entered the country illegally a third time on an unknown date and location.
Suarez and the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (IC4IJ) say a third person was detained, but that individual’s family declined to share details.
“Our count on who was arrested is based on the families who showed up and reported their loved ones missing,” said Suarez.
Neither DHS nor ICE responded to questions about Piña’s arrest or whether other individuals were taken into custody on Monday.
Suarez also noted that earlier this month, Police Chief Mike Lorenz told the public during a July 1 city council meeting that Ontario complies with the California Values Act (SB 54), which bars local agencies from using resources for immigration enforcement.
In a statement Thursday, IC4IJ labeled Ontario PD's response to Monday's incident as "inconsistent' and shared that they plan to do their own investigation.
Estrada said Ontario PD only enforces state laws and that federal agencies like ICE, “operate under very different jurisdictions.”
“But to be clear, we do not conduct immigration enforcement, and we did not assist in their operations,” said Estrada. “We answered a call for help.”
Estrada also said that if any law enforcement officer is in immediate danger or requires emergency assistance, “our officers will respond as we would with any call for help.”
"Please understand that these officers are working in an official capacity, physically blocking or obstructing any law enforcement agencies from performing their duties is considered obstruction of justice and could result in an arrest."
A statement issued by Stater Bros. said federal agents entered the store unannounced and told management they were conducting surveillance on someone at a nearby donut shop.
“According to the agents, the individual entered our store, prompting them to follow him inside. No detainments occurred,” the statement read.
