Misael Ramos, a candidate for the District 1 Austin City Council seat, was arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety for participating in a riot, a class B misdemeanor.
The arrest comes after Ramos attended a protest against the shooting of Wilber Garces Perez by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on Sunday, September 20.
Ramos, one of six candidates in the District 1 race, was arrested at 8:50 a.m. Saturday morning while walking his dog, according to Austin Lawyers Guild attorney Paul Quinzi.
Denisse Vargas, Ramos’ neighbor, witnessed and filmed the incident. Video obtained by KUT shows five uniformed officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers surrounding Ramos and ordering him to stop walking.
“I live right down the street,” Ramos said in the video. “Let me walk my dog.”
Vargas said the agents would not give Ramos information about the warrant until he accompanied them.
“The fact that he didn’t even know there was a warrant for his arrest, I think, is a testament to how deploying state police to do the job of this administration is causing tremendous concern and fear in our community,” Jeffrey Clemmons, Ramos’ campaign manager, said in an interview with KUT.
Ramos was booked into the Travis County Jail at 9:31 a.m. Saturday.
At least three other people were arrested for resisting arrest and rioting in connection with Sunday’s protest, according to Quinzi.
Quinzi said he hoped Ramos would be released Saturday and the charges against him dropped.
A news conference featuring Ramos’ campaign manager and attorneys is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday outside the Travis County Jail.
More protests against the shooting and detention of Garces Perez are planned for Sunday in Austin.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Jeffrey Clemmons’ name.
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