St. Peter police chief intervenes, prevents federal agents from arresting resident

[demmiblue]

MPR News has learned that the police chief in the small southern Minnesota city of St. Peter intervened Thursday afternoon to prevent federal immigration agents from arresting a local resident.

The resident, a woman, had been observing and recording video of immigration enforcement actions from her car when agents removed her from her car and took her into custody.

It's believed to be the first time a local police department in Minnesota intervened in a federal law enforcement action since the surge in immigration enforcement began two months ago.

The woman, who did not want to be identified because she fears for her safety, is a U.S. citizen and a resident of St. Peter. She told MPR News in an interview that she was out in the community in her car, tracking the movements of federal agents, and recording them on a dash cam.

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/30/st-peter-police-chief-intervenes-prevents-federal-agents-from-arresting-resident

This is in small-town Minnesota. This is not in one of those demonic blue cities that the GOP talk about. This is pretty goddam rural. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

— John Jackson (@jpj.bsky.social) 2026-01-31T14:49:58.837Z

[orangecrush]

1. K&R

[wolfie001]

2. Fight tRUMP's nazis any way we can

Every day and everywhere!

[Jim__]

3. The American people need to demand that ICE be disbanded. These are not police. These are just thugs.

[popsdenver]

13. They are, in reality

Hitler's GESTAPO STORM TROOPERS....................Look back in history folks. AND it is accelerating at WARP SPEED.....

[leftstreet]

4. ABOLISH ICE n/t

[popsdenver]

15. Everybody keeps saying ICE

when much of it is being done, by Trump's New Private Army, THE US BORDER PATROL.................

[Kid Berwyn]

5. Outstanding

Hope it’s the start of something big.

[sop]

6. " 'I'm not getting into the legality of everything,' one agent responds tersely."

When these nazi fuckers are finally taken into custody, protesting they have immunity, the arresting officers should respond tersely "I'm not getting into the legality of everything," as they wrestle them violently to the ground, faces pushed in the gutter, then throw them into the back of an unmarked car for a ride to the detention center.

[popsdenver]

16. Exactly like

German Nazi Military officers and Soldiers: "We were merely acting on orders"......scary times, folks..........

[malthaussen]

7. Dang, video ends before local LEO intervenes.

I would have liked to see that part.

-- Mal

[sop]

14. That part's not on the video.

The local leo showed up at the station and took the woman home only after her husband called him to complain. Apparently, the local cop was a friend and went down to the ICE detention place. I wouldn't exactly call that "intervening" in the woman's assault and arrest.

[malthaussen]

29. More click-bait, IOW.

There seems to be a lot of grasping at straws, lately.

-- Mal

[popsdenver]

30. Yea

showing up her on DU many times recently.......

[Joinfortmill]

8. Motherf*ckers. Be careful out there, people.

[Fil1957]

9. We need more local cops to stand up to these thugs.

[LilElf70]

10. Holy shit

They drew their guns even before talking to the lady. Somehow they forced her out of her car. It sounds like they are on top of her, restraining her. Unbelievable

The hate and fear posed by these ass wipes has got to stop. Defund ICE NOW!!!!!!!

[popsdenver]

31. Pussies

their entire masculinity is wrapped up in their body armor, guns, and 10 on 1 tactics.......

My fantasy is having the entire ICE and Border Patrol, loaded on planes, with their body armor, helmets, guns, and given parachutes, then dropped in some foreign war zone and see how brave they are then, when their enemy has guns and shoots back.......

[flashman13]

11. That is an incredible display in courage on the part of a single woman staring down ICE goons pointing guns at her.

Just the opposite of the chickenshit Repug Congress people who are terrified of an ill word from Donny. They love to talk about patriots. That woman shows what a real American patriot looks and sounds like. The people of Minnesota are showing the world what the home of the brave really means.

[Walleye]

12. Yes, send this to Speaker Johnson and leader Thune

Unfortunately, I think they have no shame left

[Hope22]

20. He would want to know the depot where the women are dropped at and the videos of the abuse.

Then he could call his son and tell him that he had sinned.

[popsdenver]

18. Most interesting

they are intentionally picking on BLUE cities, and ones with a population less than half a million, rather than BLUE cities that have a population of 5-10 Million.......I can only guess that they learned their lesson, (at least for the time being) of trying it in Portland, Seattle, LA, Denver etc)

DC is a different story........they have amassed a huge military force to build a fortress around the White House, Capitol, Supreme Court, etc They saw what 5,000 MAGAots, did on J6th and are frightened of the possibility of a million or two Dems marching on DC.....

[Martin68]

17. Excellent! We need more of this. Local police protecting local citizens from armed thugs.

[popsdenver]

21. Having witnessed

what Aurora PD and Denver PD did during the black lives matter peaceful demonstration.......I don't think many cities can rely on their local cops or sheriffs.....Aurora and Denver City Councils have paid out twenties of millions these past few years in damages to demonstrators for outright, flagrant, police brutality, by their local police, mostly aimed at blacks and mexicans.......
Aurora Police and Aurora Paramedics, literally went after an innocent black teen, just walking down the street. overwhelmed the kid to the ground, and handcuffed him and encouraged the Aurora Paramedics to give him an OD of TWICE the dose of a medicine that there was no call for them to use........
Aurora Police are so out of control, they have a revolving door when it comes to hiring a new chief of police.....I think they have had FIVE? CHIEFS sworn in during the past four? years, who quickly look around and resign????

[Martin68]

24. You're probably right. I have no faith in local law enforcement. I live in Charlottesville where the police stood by as

nazis and other white supremacists beat up innocent bystanders. But the video here does show there are exceptions. I just hope there are more pockets of resistance out there.

[popsdenver]

26. We have a few select Dem

House and Senate members that are constantly in the media, challenging what is going on.........But there are over 200 of the Dems in congress, that we never hear anything from......THAT IS THE SAD STATE OF THINGS...PRETTY PATHETIC......

I get all kinds of Political Donation requests from the Dems, and since the 2024 election, I just throw them in the trash....

Just saying................

[Martin68]

35. I don't donate to every Democratic plea. But for certain causes I give. I understand your desperation, despondency, and

lack of faith. But the truth is, the only way out of this is strength in numbers. A house divided cannot stand. Please don't give up. I felt that way during the Nixon administration in the 70s, the Regain administration in the 80s, the Bush administrations in the 90s. Every time we elected a Democrat things got better. Every time a Republican was in office, things got worse. The is the worst yet, but we will prevail if we stick together.

[Hope22]

19. It should be noted how many lone woman are being carted off!

Where do they take them? My guess is it’s an ugly scene. My heart goes out to women scooped up by these dirty, mental thugs!!! Sickening beyond words!!

[popsdenver]

23. It should also be noted

just how many ICE or Border Patrol goons, it takes to arrest just one protestor. They are nothing more than armed to the teeth, chicken shit, German Gestapo imitating Storm Troopers..........

absolutely un-fathomable, what is going on folks.....

[Hope22]

28. Exactly...

This woman could have floored it and taken three out. She may not have survived but I’m pretty sure where they were taking her was death by one *uck at a time. Completely frightening. But worry no more, Ohio’s governor wants it to be perfectly clear that federal ‘agents’ must follow Ohio law. In his words…they can’t step in front of a vehicle. Like that is the most important transgression!!! Unfathomable…..exactly.

[Bluetus]

22. Arrest the ICE agents for assault.

Under MN law, simple assault is typically classified as a misdemeanor. This charge involves intentionally or recklessly causing physical harm to another person or making them fear imminent harm. Simple assault does not involve serious injury or the use of a weapon.

Simple assault is generally a misdemeanor, but prosecutors can file it as a gross misdemeanor or felony charge if the defendant has a prior conviction or assaulted the same person repeatedly.

[CoopersDad]

25. Our state and local law enforcement teams are our protectors against oppression.

We should back them when they stand between us and the feds.

[Uncle Joe]

27. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread demmiblue

[sl8]

32. Contrary to the headline, the chief didn't prevent her arrest.

Last edited Sat Jan 31, 2026, 06:41 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/30/st-peter-police-chief-intervenes-prevents-federal-agents-from-arresting-resident

MPR changed the headline:
"St. Peter police chief intervened and got federal agents to release resident, sources say"

Even the original article said nothing about the the chief preventing her arrest, other than the headline. It said that she was arrested and taken to the police station and the chief then drove her home.

[progree]

36. Yes, the city of St. Peter denies that the police chief intervened, according to the updated MPR story

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/30/st-peter-police-chief-intervenes-prevents-federal-agents-from-arresting-resident

On Friday, the St. Peter police chief did not respond to additional questions about his involvement in the incident, but on Saturday, the city of St. Peter put out a statement denying that the chief intervened on the resident’s behalf.

“The Saint Peter police department did not participate in, coordinate with or intervene in any federal enforcement activity,” the statement said.

”Federal immigration authorities dropped the individual off at the police department. Police Chief Grochow then ensured the resident was safely transported home and offered assistance, as we would for any member of our community,” it added.

Although it sounds like from this updated story (updated January 31, 3:36 PM CT) that MPR doesn't believe that.

[flvegan]

33. Rolling up and cutting her off in an unmarked Mazda?? I'd assume that was a carjacking

and be hard in reverse immediately, especially with a couple tubby clowns with guns immediately drawn on exiting that (again, I say) Mazda.

And fuck them.

[yellow dahlia]

34. More of this!

[Clouds Passing]

37. Why did she have to say call the police so many times?