An elderly car wash owner has reportedly filed a civil rights lawsuit seeking $50 million, saying he was injured after federal agents pinned him to the ground during an immigration raid at his business in Los Angeles earlier this month.
Rafie Ollah Shouhed, 79, says a group of masked agents from federal government agencies including the Department of Homeland Security stormed into his business on September 9 and began detaining some of his workers, reports NBC4.
Shouhed, a U.S. citizen, claims when he tried to speak with the agents and show them the legal paperwork for his employees, they shoved him to the ground, and at least one agent put his knee on Shouhed’s neck. His attorney, James DeSimone, posted surveillance footage on Facebook that he claims shows Shouhed being knocked to the ground.
Shouhed said he was transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles and held for almost 12 hours without medical care.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow.