A Nigerian national who overstayed his student visa and a Twin Cities woman were federally charged with assaulting a Homeland Security agent after the agent became trapped in their vehicle during an attempted immigration enforcement stop in Plymouth, Minnesota.
Federal assault charges have been filed against Oluwadamilola Ogooluwa Bamigboye, 24, and Rekeya Lionesha Lee Frazier, 23, following a chaotic incident Wednesday in Plymouth and New Hope, Minnesota. The pair are accused of assaulting a Homeland Security Investigations agent during what was initially reported as a kidnapping. The charging document filed late Thursday details how the incident unfolded when HSI agents attempted to question Bamigboye about his immigration status at an apartment complex located at 3934 Lancaster Lane North in Plymouth.
HSI agents were conducting surveillance on Bamigboye, who had overstayed a student visa, when they spotted him arriving in a Jeep driven by Frazier. According to the federal complaint, agents approached the pair in an unmarked Ford Explorer equipped with lights and sirens, with one agent wearing a marked vest displaying “POLICE” and “HSI.” When agents identified themselves and showed badges and credentials, Bamigboye got into the back seat of the Jeep. “Drive! Drive! Drive! Get in the car and drive,” Bamigboye told Frazier, or words to that effect, charges state.
As Frazier started the vehicle, one agent entered the front seat attempting to stop her while another tried to pull Bamigboye from the back. Frazier and the front seat agent struggled over the gear shifter while Bamigboye attempted to push the agent out of the vehicle. Frazier put the Jeep in drive and pulled away, forcing one agent to jump clear while trapping the other inside with the closed door. The trapped agent demanded Frazier stop, telling her she was “making a very bad decision.” Frazier responded that she would crash the Jeep if he didn’t stop and claimed she was taking him to the police department.
The complaint stated the agent feared he was being abducted as Frazier continued driving despite his drawn firearm and repeated demands to stop. Bamigboye called 911 from the back seat while other agents pursued with lights and sirens activated, believing their colleague was being kidnapped. The pursuing agents inadvertently struck the Jeep during the chase. Frazier eventually parked in front of the New Hope Police Department, where Bamigboye fled into a nearby Hy-Vee store and was detained at taser point by officers after refusing to cooperate.
Following their arrests, Frazier declined to speak to agents. Bamigboye eventually admitted telling Frazier to drive from the scene, and admitted trying to push the agent out of the vehicle. Bamigboye claimed to have PTSD from being kidnapped in his native country of Nigeria and that’s why he acted that way.