A manager at the Laugh Factory in Chicago was arrested for allegedly obstructing a federal immigration operation — but his mother claimed agents “kidnapped” him before her eyes.
The Chicago Police Department said they responded to a call of a battery in progress outside the club at around 9:20 a.m. Friday, when they found federal agents involved in a physical altercation with two individuals, NBC Chicago reported.
A viral video of the encounter shows federal agents taking night manager Nathan Griffin to the ground and placing him under arrest as onlookers scream at the agents to stop during the chaotic scene.
The video shows the manager, along with his mother, Elaine Plybon, and agents, in a physical struggle.
“Why are you doing this? Where are you taking him?” bystanders yelled as Griffin was picked up off the ground and led into a car.
“Let us see your face,” another person screamed.
Witness Will Kolic, who works nearby and knows the club’s manager, told NBC Chicago he saw multiple cars pull up and men grab a man who appeared to be Hispanic.
Kolic said agents then “jumped out of their car” and snatched the Laugh Factory’s manager while he was standing with his mother.
It’s not clear who started it, but at one point, agents are seen restraining the mother on the ground.
A Border Patrol spokesperson told NBC Chicago that Griffin was detained after he “attempted to impede and obstruct federal officers,” and claims he attempted to shut the door of the federal agents’ car on an agent’s leg.
“The individual was immediately detained and turned over to the FBI for investigation,” Border Patrol said.
His upset mother posted a video on Instagram telling her followers that her son was “kidnapped by Border Patrol in front of my eyes.”
“For those of you who don’t know, I was in Chicago visiting my son, and he was kidnapped by Border Patrol in front of my eyes,” Plybon said.
“When I think about going out the door in the morning, I don’t want to… Because I do not want to encounter the SUV, the screams, the crying and the horrific things that I saw before I was pulled into the fray when somebody tried to kidnap my son.”
The brother-in-law of the Laugh Factory’s night manager and his mother have since launched a GoFundMe to help Griffin raise money for legal funds.
“My brother in law Nathan was detained by border patrol officers today in Chicago, despite the fact that he is a natural-born American citizen,” Tom Pinney wrote.
“After being arrested and hidden throughout the system, he finally resurfaced about 4 hours after his detainment in FBI custody awaiting a hearing for a federal assault charge which could carry 8 years in prison if convicted.”
The GoFundMe has since raised more than $20,000 since being created on Saturday.
“The amazing outpouring of support is reminding us of the America we love. We cannot thank you enough!” Plybon wrote in an update on the fundraising page.
Read the full article here
