DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — One person was hit by a car, and agents are looking for two others after an incident involving federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Dougherty County.

According to Georgia State Patrol (GSP), ICE agents attempted to stop a vehicle on the Liberty Expressway when all of the occupants allegedly exited the van and ran into the wooded area near the Moultrie Road exit.

“The driver of the van fled on foot in the median in between the Expressway and the exit ramp. An ICE agent was traveling in the median in his patrol car. The fleeing driver fell to the ground in the median and became lodged under the ICE agents’ patrol car.”

The Dougherty County Police Department said they responded early Thursday morning (Sept. 17) around 5 a.m. According to early info, ICE agents attempted to stop the van, saying it was allegedly occupied by three people identified by ICE agents as immigrants.

Family gives different account

WALB made contact with the family of the man who was allegedly found lodged under an ICE agent’s patrol car. They’ve identified him as Edgar Cabrera Gomez.

The family of Edgar Cabrera Gomez refutes that account. They said that when they called Gomez’s phone after hearing about the incident, an official answered and said Gomez was the driver who jumped from the vehicle and was hurt. The family said when they called the phone again later, Gomez answered and gave a different account.

“He said he was not driving and the only reason why he was injured is because the ICE agent themselves had ran him over while he was running,” a family member of Gomez said.

“He said he was not driving, and the only reason why he was injured is because the ICE agents themselves ran him over while he was running.”

“He said he was not driving and the only reason why he was injured is because the ICE agent themselves had ran him over while he was running,” the family said.

The family said when they arrived at the hospital, they were not able to see Gomez because he was in custody. The family said when they spoke with him by phone, he described several injuries.

“His whole leg is just so broken, like he can’t even feel it to the point he said it feels like it’s paralyzed. And then he said like half of his whole body is just so bad. He said he has a broken spine. It’s just in terrible condition,” the family said.

Attorney also denied access

An attorney the family says they are retaining was also not allowed to see Gomez. The attorney said he was told Gomez would be transferred to Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin once he becomes stable. The family said they do not know Gomez’s current condition.

“He was just going to work, going about his day, just like any other normal person would do. But no, they literally chased him down with a car and then as if he was an animal just on the side of a road. We want justice for what they’ve done,” the family said.

Georgia State Patrol responded and is handling the investigation.

DCPD says ICE agents are still looking for the other two people who were in the van.

We reached out to ICE and Georgia State Patrol for clarification about exactly what all happened but have not yet heard back. Specifically, we asked to clarify whether the patrol car struck Gomez while he was running or after he fell.

The investigation is active.

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