Locust Avenue and Ellis Street: Man on an E-Bike Hospitalized With a Broken Arm After Federal Agents Detained Him
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA (October 17, 2026): Ricardo Gonzalez was hospitalized with serious injuries, including a broken arm, after federal immigration agents detained him near Locust Avenue and Ellis Street in North Long Beach on the afternoon of Saturday, October 17, 2026, according to his family, as reported by KTLA. Surveillance video obtained by KTLA shows an unmarked vehicle blocking Gonzalez’s path as he rode an electric bicycle, before several agents, some wearing vests marked “ICE,” surrounded him, took him to the ground and handcuffed him. CNN also reported the incident, citing Long Beach police and Mayor Rex Richardson.
According to a Long Beach Police Department statement reported by CNN, ICE personnel asked the department for emergency help with vehicle vandalism and a person in need of medical aid. When local officers arrived, they found a man handcuffed and bleeding while being detained by ICE, along with a large group disturbance involving the agents, the department said. Long Beach officers took Gonzalez to a nearby fire station, where his handcuffs were removed, and fire department personnel took him to a hospital, police said.
Witnesses told KTLA that Gonzalez was hit with a Taser during the encounter, and KTLA reported that at least one agent appears in the video to draw a firearm. One witness told CNN that federal agents used a Taser on Gonzalez, broke his arm and pinned him to the ground. Mayor Richardson told CNN that Gonzalez, a former city employee, had called 911 when he saw unmarked vehicles and a situation escalating. Long Beach police said their officers were not involved in immigration enforcement and did not make any arrests, ABC News reported.
The Department of Homeland Security gave a different account. In a statement on Tuesday, October 20, DHS said ICE officers followed their training and used the minimum amount of force, denied that agents struck a man on a bicycle, and said an individual was arrested after he smashed the mirror of a government vehicle, according to ABC News and CBS Los Angeles. DHS said it is investigating potential charges for the damage. A Department of Justice spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times there was no criminal case involving Gonzalez, KTLA reported. No charges have been reported, and Gonzalez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
On Monday, October 19, Mayor Richardson filed a complaint with the DHS Office of Inspector General asking for an independent investigation and for the agents involved to be removed from field enforcement duties while it is conducted, KTLA and ABC News reported. U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia has also called for a full investigation.
It is still not known why the agents first approached Gonzalez, and no agent body camera footage has been released. His family said he is still recovering. The full sequence has not yet been independently reviewed. These are early accounts. Fault is determined by investigators and, in civil cases, by the courts, and initial findings sometimes change.
Liability for Use of Force by Federal Agents in Long Beach
Federal officers, like local police, are generally held to the Fourth Amendment standard set out in Graham v. Connor (1989), which asks whether the force used was objectively reasonable in light of the facts the officers faced, including whether the person posed an immediate threat or was actively resisting. Claims for injuries caused by federal employees are generally brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act, and 28 U.S.C. § 2680(h) generally allows claims for assault and battery by federal law enforcement officers.
- The video: Surveillance video shows Gonzalez being blocked, surrounded and taken to the ground. Video is often the key evidence of what each officer did.
- The injuries: His family said he suffered a broken arm, and the Long Beach police found him bleeding. Medical records usually help show how and when injuries happened.
- The Taser: Witnesses said a Taser was used. The use of a Taser on a person who is not resisting or not a threat is a common issue in federal force cases.
- Local police records: Long Beach police reports, 911 recordings and body camera footage can matter when a federal agency does not release its own records.
These are general principles of federal law, not conclusions about this incident, which has not been publicly explained by ICE.
Steps to Take After a Use of Force Incident Involving Federal Agents
A claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act generally starts with a written administrative claim to the federal agency involved, often on the U.S. Department of Justice’s Standard Form 95, before any lawsuit can be filed. After an incident like the one on Locust Avenue, injured people and families can generally:
- Get medical care and records: Keep X-rays, records, bills and photos of the injuries.
- Save the video: Keep original copies and ask neighbors with cameras to preserve their recordings.
- Request local records: Ask the Long Beach Police Department for the incident or report number, and keep any paperwork from the fire department or hospital.
- Write it down: Note times, vehicle details and witness contacts while memories are fresh.
Legal deadlines and notice requirements apply after a crash, injury or death, and they vary with the facts of each case, the location and the parties involved, including any public agency. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Investigating the North Long Beach ICE Arrest
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a personal injury and civil rights law firm in Irvine, California, wish Ricardo Gonzalez a full recovery and extend our support to his family and neighbors. Two questions remain open: what reason did the agents have to stop Gonzalez as he rode through the neighborhood, and what does the full video, including any agent body camera footage, show about when and how his arm was broken?
If you or a loved one has been injured by the use of force by police or federal agents anywhere in California, our civil rights attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on October 21, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on October 17, 2026.
