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The Pittsburgh police did not intervene as Immigration and Customs Enforcement struggled to arrest the suspect near the police station, and allegations spread that the police were told to back off.
Pittsburgh Police Chief, Jason Lando, said that he is not aware of any order instructing the police to do nothing and has started an investigation into the incident.
“To that end, I was recently informed of an incident that occurred in front of the Zone 3 police station where ICE agents were struggling to arrest someone,” Lando said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.
KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh reported that the incident happened when ICE officers tried to arrest the suspect near the Zone 3 station, when the person started fighting and kicking the ICE officers.
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Broadcaster Colin Dunlap said a Pittsburgh police officer told him officers were ordered to stand down during the altercation.
“There are allegations that the Pittsburgh police were ordered not to intervene and were forced to stand and watch,” he continued. “Although our police did not intervene in this situation, I do not know of any order prohibiting them from doing so.”
The incident happened near the Zone 3 station, where ICE stopped a car at a nearby gas station and tried to detain the suspect, according to Lando.
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US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer badge and gear. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Although the police did not intervene, Lando stressed that Pittsburgh police do not enforce federal immigration law and are not involved in ICE operations.
“Our job is not, and never has been, to make immigration law,” Lando said. “We do not cooperate with ICE. We do not check immigration status on calls for service. We do not participate in ‘collusion’.”
He added that the police are still required to respond to emergency situations if they need help, including other law enforcement agencies, but they are only instructed to help secure the scene before returning to work.
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Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando ordered the review after officers did not intervene as ICE agents struggled with the suspect amid pleas to stop him. (Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Facebook)
Lando said that he has assigned the commander of Zone 3 to conduct an investigation to find out what the situation is regarding the incident.
Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor said the city will continue its policy of not assisting ICE operations, according to CBS News Pittsburgh.
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O’Connor, a Democrat, made the comments in January after the deadly ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis, calling the incident a “tragedy” and stressing that Pittsburgh intends to remain a city that welcomes immigrants.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.
