Executive Summary
- Darwin Alexander Davila-Perez, 33, was indicted by a federal grand jury for assaulting a federal officer.
- Prosecutors allege the suspect bit, struck, and attempted to unholster an ICE agent’s weapon during the December incident.
- The confrontation ensued after agents attempted to detain Davila-Perez for illegal residency following a failed gun purchase.
- If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has indicted Darwin Alexander Davila-Perez, a 33-year-old Nicaraguan national, on charges of assaulting a federal officer. The indictment, announced by the Department of Justice on Wednesday, stems from a violent confrontation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in December in Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington neighborhood.
According to Department of Justice filings, the incident began when ICE officers attempted to detain Davila-Perez for residing in the United States illegally. The investigation was reportedly triggered after the Department of Homeland Security learned that Davila-Perez had attempted to purchase a firearm by falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. The transaction was denied under federal laws prohibiting individuals without legal status from purchasing guns.
Prosecutors allege that when agents moved to arrest him, Davila-Perez forcefully resisted. The DOJ states that the suspect backed his vehicle into an occupied law enforcement car before fleeing the scene on foot. During the subsequent struggle, authorities say Davila-Perez elbowed an officer in the face, attempted to unholster an officer’s service weapon, bit an officer on the arm, and struck another in the forehead with a handcuff.
The indictment notes that officers issued commands for Davila-Perez to stop and show his hands in both English and Spanish, but he allegedly continued to resist. Several officers involved in the altercation reportedly suffered injuries requiring medical attention.
Legal Ramifications
This case highlights the severe legal consequences associated with resisting federal law enforcement, particularly when coupled with alleged immigration violations and attempted firearm acquisition. If convicted of the assault charge, Davila-Perez faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
