DHS Agents Arrest Venezuelan Migrant After Struggle At Michigan Sam’s Club

A Venezuelan migrant is facing federal charges after authorities say he attempted to grab a federal agent’s gun during a chaotic arrest outside a Sam’s Club in Michigan.

According to federal court documents, Arnoldo Jose Marquez-Pulido allegedly fought with a Homeland Security agent while trying to evade arrest and briefly managed to remove the officer’s firearm from its holster before losing control of it during the struggle.

The incident unfolded on March 4 outside a Sam’s Club in Utica, a suburb north of Detroit.

Federal agents said they initially encountered Marquez-Pulido outside the store and determined that he was in the United States illegally. After spotting his vehicle, agents attempted to stop him using emergency lights and sirens.

Instead of stopping, investigators say the suspect sped away and began weaving through traffic.

Agents reportedly chose not to initiate a high-speed pursuit but continued monitoring the vehicle until it pulled into the Sam’s Club parking lot.

Once there, authorities say Marquez-Pulido abruptly abandoned his car in the driving lane and attempted to flee on foot.

Court filings describe what happened next:

• A Homeland Security agent identified himself and ordered the suspect to stop.

• Marquez-Pulido allegedly tried to run into the store.

• The agent tackled him outside the entrance to prevent him from escaping.

During the struggle, prosecutors say the suspect elbowed the agent in the face and reached for the officer’s service weapon.

Investigators say Marquez-Pulido managed to remove the firearm from the holster but lost control of it as the agent wrestled him to the ground.

The confrontation left both officers injured.

According to the criminal complaint:

• One agent suffered bruising to his cheek along with abrasions on his hands and knees.

• Another responding agent sustained a knee injury.

Both were treated at a local hospital and later released.

Authorities say Marquez-Pulido entered the United States in April 2024 at the San Ysidro port of entry near the California border without documentation allowing legal entry.

His immigration case had not yet been resolved when the Michigan incident occurred.

Following the altercation, prosecutors charged him with multiple federal offenses, including:

• Assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers

• Being an alien in possession of a firearm

If convicted, the charges could carry significant prison time.

The case comes as federal authorities say assaults against immigration officers have increased sharply during expanded enforcement operations.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents have experienced a dramatic surge in threats and attacks while carrying out immigration arrests.

For investigators, the incident underscores the risks federal agents face during routine enforcement operations even in everyday places like a suburban retail parking lot.

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