Three armed men impersonating federal immigration agents pulled over a woman on Highway 211 in Clackamas County on Friday, July 17, detained her for nearly 20 minutes and physically assaulted her, according to an Oregon State Police investigation disclosed publicly on Thursday, July 24.
No arrests had been made as of July 24. Most incident details below come from OSP's account as reported by OregonLive.
The victim was driving east of Woodburn that afternoon when a newer-model blue or gray SUV with flashing red and blue lights mounted on its roof pulled in behind her. Believing it was a legitimate traffic stop, she pulled over.
Two men approached her car. One carried a rifle. They told her they were Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and that she was being detained. The men removed her from her vehicle, searched her and placed her in the back of their SUV, where a third man who called himself the "guard" assaulted her.
State police have not publicly detailed the nature of the assault; the woman later sought hospital treatment for unspecified injuries.
The three were dressed in green long-sleeve shirts and tactical vests labeled "POLICE," with fake badges, boots, baseball caps and face coverings hiding their identities.
After roughly 20 minutes, the men told the woman she was free to go. While at the hospital, she began receiving text messages from someone claiming to represent a law firm and offering legal help related to her detention. Investigators believe the phone number used may be connected to the suspects.
Federal law enforcement agencies confirmed to state officials that the stop was not part of any official operation.
State law on agent identification
Gov. Tina Kotek signed House Bill 4138 on April 9 as part of an immigrant justice package. The law requires all law enforcement operating in Oregon, including federal agencies, to clearly display identification and limits the use of face coverings, with exceptions for undercover operations, medical necessity and SWAT assignments.
What residents should know
Oregon State Police said legitimate officers conducting operations in Oregon will be clearly identified as law enforcement. Unmarked police vehicles will not have emergency lights mounted on the roof; instead, lights are built into the vehicle itself.
Anyone unsure whether a traffic stop is legitimate should stay in their vehicle, lock the doors and ask the officer for official identification. Drivers can also request that a marked patrol car respond to the scene.
How to help
Oregon State Police are asking anyone with information to call dispatch at 800-442-0776 and reference case number SP26-237961. Investigators also want to hear from anyone who has received messages from the phone number 971-502-5548, which they believe may be connected to the perpetrators.
