LAW & ORDER

ISABEL LOPEZ ASSAULTED FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT: THINKING THEY WERE ON AN ICE RAID

ISABELA LOPEZ

FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE THERE FOR A HUGE DRUG RAID NOT AN IMMIGRATION RAID – SHE FOOLISHLY INTERFERED AND ASSAULTED THEM

BY SNN.BZ STAFF

**FOOLISH UNINFORMED POET, ISABEL LOPEZ PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS**

Isabel Lopez, a 27-year-old resident of St. Paul, Minnesota, was charged in connection with actions during a federal operation on June 3, 2025, in Minneapolis. The operation was part of a large-scale, ongoing investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) with ties to transnational criminal organizations.

The investigation involved multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, IRS, HSI, ATF, and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). While the operation led to the seizure of approximately 900 pounds of methamphetamine, Lopez is not directly linked to the drug trafficking itself but rather to incidents of assault and obstruction during the execution of search warrants related to this seizure.

Lopez-Complaint-Unsealed Download

Details of the Methamphetamine Seizure

Quantity and Value: The investigation began with a separate search warrant executed at a storage unit in Burnsville, Minnesota, prior to June 3, 2025. This search resulted in the seizure of over 900 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, concealed in multiple tubes held in large metal spools. The estimated street value of the methamphetamine was between $22 million and $25 million.
Investigation Scope: The methamphetamine seizure was part of a broader investigation into a DTO suspected of narcotics trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, and related offenses. The investigation culminated in the execution of eight federal search warrants on June 3, 2025, across multiple locations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, including Burnsville, Bloomington, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Minneapolis, and Northfield.
Evidence Seized: In addition to the methamphetamine, the June 3 searches yielded various items of evidence, including:
- Documents and devices containing electronically stored information relevant to the investigation.
- Gold-plated firearms from a Northfield residence, styled similarly to those used by narco-traffickers.
- Multiple “Scarface” portraits seized from a Burnsville business, which are commonly associated with individuals involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.

Isabel Lopez’s Involvement

Isabel Lopez’s involvement stems from her actions during the execution of a search warrant at the Cuatro Milpas restaurant on East Lake Street in Minneapolis on June 3, 2025. The following details outline her role and the charges against her:

Context of the Incident:
- On June 3, 2025, federal agents, including FBI SWAT teams, executed a search warrant at Cuatro Milpas as part of the broader investigation. A crowd of approximately 100 people gathered, mistakenly believing the operation was an immigration raid by ICE. Federal authorities clarified that the operation was related to narcotics, human trafficking, and money laundering, not immigration enforcement.
- The crowd’s agitation escalated, leading to confrontations with law enforcement. Lopez was among the protesters and engaged in actions that led to her charges.
Alleged Actions:
- Assaults on Federal Officers: Lopez is accused of multiple assaults on federal officers, captured on body-worn camera and open-source videos:
  - She approached FBI SWAT agents securing the perimeter, attempted to hit at least one officer with her arms or closed fist, and kicked an FBI SWAT officer with her foot while being restrained by crowd members.
  - After breaking free, Lopez pushed another FBI SWAT officer with her arms.
  - Approximately six minutes later, Lopez was observed standing on a trash can in the middle of Lake Street, obstructing law enforcement vehicles. When FBI SWAT officers attempted to remove her for safety and to clear the street, she pushed and kicked at them.
  - Lopez threw a softball or similar object at a Hennepin County Sheriff’s Deputy and ATF Task Force Officer who was directing pedestrians away from a moving vehicle convoy. She retrieved the softball and threw it again, striking the deputy in the back.
- Arrest and Further Assault: On June 9, 2025, when federal agents attempted to arrest Lopez, she allegedly punched an FBI agent in the head.
Charges:
- On June 9, 2025, Lopez was charged by complaint with Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding Officers, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1).
- On June 10, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment:
  - Three Counts of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding Officers (18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1)): Two counts related to the assaults during the June 3 search warrant execution and one count for punching an FBI agent during her arrest.
  - One Count of Obstruction of Law Enforcement During Civil Disorder (18 U.S.C. § 231(a)(3)): For her actions impeding the federal investigation.
- These charges stem from her physical actions against law enforcement, not from direct involvement in the drug trafficking conspiracy or the methamphetamine seizure.
Arrest and Release:
- Lopez was arrested on June 9, 2025, after an interview with journalist Georgia Fort. The arrest was controversial, with reports suggesting plainclothes officers in unmarked vehicles did not initially identify themselves, and Lopez’s shoulder was visibly bleeding post-arrest.
- She made her initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty on June 10, 2025, and was detained pending a detention hearing.
- On June 12, 2025, Lopez was released on a personal recognizance bond with conditions, including surrendering her passport, not leaving Minnesota without permission, undergoing a mental health evaluation, and having no contact with witnesses. She pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Additional Context

Community Response: Lopez, described as an Indigenous woman, poet, and community activist with the Indigenous Protectors Movement, garnered significant support from protesters. On June 11, 2025, approximately 70 people rallied outside the Sherburne County Jail, where she was detained, demanding her release. Supporters viewed her arrest as an attempt to intimidate community activism, particularly in communities of color.
Misinformation and Protests: The protests on June 3 were fueled by misinformation on social media suggesting the federal operation was an ICE raid. This led to heightened tensions, with community members and activists, including Lopez, confronting law enforcement. The presence of ICE agents, part of the multi-agency task force, contributed to the confusion, despite assurances from authorities that the operation was not immigration-related.
Impact on Investigation: The protests and Lopez’s alleged actions forced federal agents to leave the Cuatro Milpas scene before collecting all desired evidence, potentially hindering the broader investigation into the DTO.

Clarification on Lopez’s Role

While the investigation involved a significant methamphetamine seizure, there is no evidence in the provided documents or related sources linking Lopez directly to the drug trafficking, methamphetamine possession, or related crimes. Her charges are specifically related to her alleged assaults on federal officers and obstruction during the execution of the search warrant at Cuatro Milpas. Other individuals indicted in connection with the DTO and methamphetamine trafficking (e.g., Richar Sanchez Mujica, Donovan Rey Lopez, and others) are named in a separate indictment from March 2025, but Lopez is not mentioned in that context.