The Fullerton Police Department addressed community concerns regarding federal immigration enforcement involvement during an incident on January 22, 2026. At approximately 6:44 am, the police dispatch received a call from a resident on S. Highland, reporting police activity after witnessing a suspect fleeing on foot, armed with a handgun, in her apartment complex.
According to police reports, officers were initially unaware that a police pursuit had occurred. Upon arrival, they discovered that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were attempting to stop a vehicle connected to an individual wanted for immigration violations. The suspect fled the scene on foot, prompting a response from local officers.
During the pursuit, an uninvolved bystander, who was walking his dog in the area, alerted officers that he had seen a Hispanic male in a grey sweatshirt running while armed with a handgun.
“Public safety is our main concern,” said Fullerton Police Chief Jon Radus. “While we were unaware it was an ICE operation, we assisted in establishing a perimeter for the federal agents to conduct their search.”
As the situation unfolded, additional ICE agents arrived, taking over the search efforts. Fullerton officers remained on-site, towing the suspect’s abandoned vehicle, which was obstructing traffic on a city street.
Chief Radus emphasized the importance of clear communication with the community. “I have been informed that residents believe the Fullerton Police Department opened gates for ICE agents. This is not accurate; the ICE agents cut locks to gain access to the area,” he clarified. Security concerns spread to local schools, leading the Community Services Supervisor, who oversees school resource officers, to speak with district officials.
Fullerton School District Deputy Superintendent Chad Hammitt said he was called by Fullerton Police at 7:45am and told that there was “a suspect being pursued by ICE and that FPD was holding a perimeter of the area. At no time were we told that there was an armed suspect,” said Hammitt – who also noted that the usual police protocols in event of an armed gunman were not followed by police. At 7:55am Hammitt informed Woodcrest School and teachers were alerted, and at 8:37 parents were informed that ICE was in the neighborhood.
Superintendent Hammitt also noted that the correct protocals were being used by police in today’s (Friday Jan 23) incident when Golden Hill was put on lockdown and Maple School was told to shelter in place after the district was informed that armed robbery suspects were on the loose around the Lemon & Orangethorpe to Malvern & Euclid areas.
Addressing community fears regarding ICE’s presence, Chief Radus stated, “I recognize the concerns and anxieties ICE brings to our neighborhoods. The Fullerton Police Department has worked diligently to build trust within our immigrant community. It is our hope that this investment assures residents that we are a resource they can depend on for safety, as we are not involved in immigration enforcement.”
He added, “Incidents like this put local police in a challenging position. While we value our immigrant community, we also carry the responsibility to ensure the safety of all residents and our law enforcement partners. I commend our officers for their professionalism and sound judgment in a complex situation.”
The Fullerton Police Department continues to prioritize public safety while striving to maintain trust within the community.
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Categories: Local Government, Local News
What happened to the suspect?
ED Response: No one seems to know.
Why did Fullerton Police allow ICE agents to cut locks on gates with no warrant?
Why didn’t FPD order the school be locked down or alert the residents that a gunman was on the loose?
None of this makes any sense.
I agree, Sharon. It doesn’t pass the smell test, IMO. Particularly with this context: Dozens of people have been abducted from our streets in Fullerton. Not once has a local police officer stood between an ICE agent — or some goon pretending to be an ICE agent — and a person being assaulted and kidnapped. Even simply to ask for ID or warrant.
Also – how do we know a resident called police? It could have been an ICE agent making that call.
Fullerton PD’s own written statement raises further red flags.
The department statement describes a suspect in a white shirt, yet officers stopped and threatened to detain a young Latino man walking his dog because he was wearing a grey hoodie—explicitly stating they were searching for someone in a grey hoodie in contradiction to the description in their statement. The FPD statement also omits that officers opened secured gates to allow ICE into private property, raising serious questions about whether a valid judicial warrant was reviewed by FPD, as required under California law.