GLOUCESTER COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — As concerns over raids by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, are continuing to grow across the nation, witnesses say there was one Friday in Gloucester County.
Some witnesses said they saw four men allegedly being detained outside of a hardware store by what they say were ICE agents.
A surveillance video captured the activity outside of an Ace Hardware store. In the video, what seemed to be a quiet morning at a Ace Hardware in Gloucester quickly turned into a scene of those four men appearing to be detained. The situation left many shocked.
An employee said the men had been inside the store shopping, and when they returned to the landscaping truck they were driving, that’s when this all unfolded.
It appears that the men were possible employees of the landscaping company Hertzler and George. These photos were sent to us by a 10 On Your Side viewer who wishes to remain anonymous.
They say they saw everything.
In a text, that person said: “I will say that I am glad to see that happen. Just sad that it was happening so close to home. It was a complete shock. But what I witnessed, the officers were completely professional and had the situation under control.”
But others feel differently.
“I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, I don’t care if you’re a Republican this is wrong, you don’t treat people like this,” local activist and longtime Gloucester County resident Brenda Dixon said.
Dixon said when she heard what happened, she was shocked.
“Businesses [are] losing good workers because they are afraid to come out to work because the same thing that happened today when they walked out,” Dixon said, “You don’t know what they are going to be faced with at the end of the day, if they make it to the end of the day.”
The four men’s identities are unknown at this time. 10 On Your Side reached out to the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office to try and learn more about what exactly took place and if ICE agents are in the area, but have not heard back.
10 On Your Side also reached out to Hertzler and George to try and learn more about the men, but we haven’t heard back.
A hardware store employee told 10 On Your Side the owner of the Hertzler and George came to the store after the incident, and said the men had been working for him for several years.