After infecting two police officers with COVID-19 while under arrest for a brutal domestic assault, a twice-deported illegal alien has been released on bond back onto the streets of Culpeper, Virginia.
According to local media reports, in the early morning hours of April 28th, police in the Town of Culpeper responded to a residence for a domestic assault call and, upon arrival, could hear a woman screaming inside the residence in question. Upon entry, officers found the suspect “actively assaulting a woman,” and while attempting to arrest the suspect, a total of three officers were forced to go “hands-on” to bring him into custody.
From the Culpeper Police Department:
Once the subject was in custody for domestic assault, he was then taken to the Culpeper County Jail where he was medically screened for Covid-19 before entering the jail. Based upon this screening, officers diverted the subject to the Novant/UVA Culpeper Medical Center to be medically cleared, including being tested for Covid-19. The suspect tested positive for Covid-19 at that time.
After the positive test result, the subject’s custody was then transferred to the Culpeper County Jail where he was held with no bond. Subsequently, the subject was served with a protective order for no contact with the victim and he was no longer permitted at the residence.
Later on April 28th, a bond hearing was held for the subject in the Culpeper Juvenile Domestic and Relations Court where he was released from custody with an unsecured bond and referred to pre-trial services through the Culpeper County Probation Office.
The suspect has twice been deported from the U.S. according to the United States Customs and Enforcement (ICE).
According to the police statement, two of the responding officers had fallen ill by May 2nd and tested positive for COVID-19 later that day. The third officer present is reportedly under quarantine.
“The suspect who gave them this virus continues to roam the streets potentially infecting many other people in our community,” Culpeper Police Chief Chris Jenkins said.
While it is unclear where the suspect contracted the virus, as the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded across the United States, issues surrounding border security and immigration have become increasingly linked to public health. Thousands of illegal aliens have been released onto American streets since the virus’ spread began, with officials citing concerns of large scale outbreaks in jails and immigration detention facilities.
On April 23rd, an Indian national who illegally entered the United States by way of Mexico was apprehended by Customs and Border Patrol agents and subsequently tested positive for the virus.