ICE Agents Arrest Observer and Knock Down and Pepper-Spray 80-Year-Old Attorney in Downtown Santa Barbara

A chaotic scene unfolded Friday morning in downtown Santa Barbara as two federal agents violently arrested 27-year-old resident Jack Randmaa and knocked down and pepper sprayed 80-year-old attorney Doug Hayes. 

According to Randmaa’s father, Matt, Jack is a volunteer ICE observer and had been alerted to agents’ presence on Carrillo Street, near the offices of the Santa Barbara County Probation Department. 

Jack had apparently approached too close to an ICE vehicle, Matt said, when agents “jumped” him. They also accused Jack of slashing one of the car’s tires. “Sounds like false charges,” Matt said. “He was nowhere near the tire slashed. He had no weapon on him.” 

As Jack was being detained by two agents, bystander video shows, Hayes approached, demanding the agents remove their masks and calling them cowards. Hayes then attempted to pick up Jack’s backpack when one of the agents pepper-sprayed him and threw him to the ground. 

At County Probation, an employee who asked not to be identified, said three or four ICE vehicles had pulled up to the offices at approximately 11 a.m. The employee said a handful of protesters were also present and one of them had allegedly attempted to pry a tire off one of the vehicles.

According to a member of SBResiste, rapid responders in Ventura County began following the ICE vehicles as they traveled through Ventura and Carpinteria at about 7 a.m. The vehicles were then spotted at around 8:30 a.m. on Coast Village Road, and shortly after on Mission Street.

Matt Randmaa said he and his wife plan to follow their son wherever ICE takes him, either to a detention facility in Los Angeles or another in Camarillo. All three of them are American citizens, Matt said. 

Santa Barbara police officers were present during the incident and accompanied ICE agents to their nearby station after the arrest, those on the scene claimed. The police department said a public statement about their involvement is forthcoming.

In comments to observers gathered outside the Santa Barbara Police Department, where ICE agents had retreated after the Carrillo Street incident, Commander Chris Payne stated “someone vandalized” an ICE vehicle. The observers disputed that claim. Payne also said a federal statute allowed the ICE agents to arrest Randmaa, rather than city police. 

Representatives with 805 UndocuFund said spotters had observed three ICE vehicles ― a white Dodge Charger, a White Dodge Caravan, and a Silver Ford Expedition ― “playing cat-and-mouse” with Rapid Response volunteers throughout the morning as they seemingly waited to pick somebody up at the county jail.