Munoz, who has an extensive criminal history, has been charged with assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon - a vehicle - resulting in bodily injury, according to court documents. The federal officer, employed by ICE Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), sustained deep wounds and several abrasions that required more than 30 stitches. The ICE agent, who was hospitalized, was attempting to take Munoz into federal custody so that he could be removed from the United States.
According to the FBI complaint, Munoz refused to exit his vehicle after being stopped by ICE agents near his home around 8 am. He continued to defy orders, resulting in federal officers breaking the windows of his vehicle. When an ICE agent reached into the shattered window to unlock the vehicle, Munoz put his car in drive and hit the gas with the officer's arm still inside.
Munoz then allegedly dragged the officer approximately 50 yards through a residential neighborhood in an attempt to evade arrest, per the complaint.
The ICE agent deployed two direct taser shots at Munoz, but he continued weaving through the neighborhood "in an apparent effort to shake the ERO officer from the vehicle," according to the FBI affidavit. The officer was eventually flung from the vehicle after Munoz hit a curb.
After fleeing from federal authorities, Munoz called 911 to falsely report that he had been assaulted by ICE agents. Local police arrived on the scene, arrested Munoz, and booked him into jail. Federal prosecutors immediately filed charges.
"This was a brazen and cowardly act by a criminal illegal alien who has complete disregard for the laws of our country and clearly places himself above the lives of others," said Peter Berg, ICE ERO Field Office Director for St. Paul. "The deportation officer involved in this incident - someone who has dedicated his life to upholding the law and protecting this nation - was severely wounded by a fleeing suspect who should have never been in the United States in the first place."
In December 2022, Munoz was charged with repeatedly sexually abusing his 16-year-old stepdaughter in Hennepin County, Minnesota, according to court documents. He was convicted of felony fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
ICE ERO issued a detainer on Munoz after his arrest, but local authorities did not honor the detainer, and Munoz was released from custody without authorities notifying ICE, per the FBI affidavit.
"Roberto Carlos Munoz is a child sex offender and illegal alien from Guatemala who attempted to evade law enforcement and dragged an ICE officer 50 yards down the street with his car. Thankfully, the officer is expected to make a full recovery," said Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a press release. "This illegal alien has been committing violent crimes in the US for nearly 15 years. He is a convicted child sex offender who has a rap sheet that includes an arrest for domestic assault and multiple driving offenses. Under Governor Tim Walz, this sicko was living in Minnesota without consequence. Instead of comparing ICE law enforcement to the Gestapo, Governor Walz should be thanking our brave law enforcement for arresting these violent criminals."
According to ICE, Munoz is an illegal alien from Guatemala who illegally entered the US on an unknown date. He has a lengthy criminal rap sheet dating back to 2010, which includes charges and/or convictions for domestic violence assault, sex crimes against minors, and driving without a valid license. ICE first lodged a detainer on him in 2013, according to the press release.
Members of the public can report immigration-related crimes or suspicious activity by calling (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
