A South Carolina man has been charged with posing as a fake immigration agent in a traffic stop.
The man, identified as Sean Michael Johnson, detained a group of Latino men in a vehicle and took their keys so they couldn’t drive home.
He was arrested after turning himself into the Sullivan’s Island Police Department last Friday.
Johnson is charged with felony kidnapping, impersonating a law enforcement officer, larceny, and third-degree assault and battery after a video on social media went viral of Johnson allegedly impersonating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer earlier this week.
During the video, Johnson says to the occupants of the car “you got caught where are you from, Mexico? you’re going back.” At one point in the video, Johnson appears to take the driver’s keys so he couldn’t leave.
In court, the public defender said Johnson was extremely sorry for his actions.
His family says they know he has mental health and alcohol issues and they want to help him receive the treatment he needs, therefore they asked the judge to grant Johnson bond.
“He turned himself in your honor, and I can guarantee he is not going to be a flight risk and he’s not a danger to the community.”
The judge responded by stating she is mindful of his need for treatment but is also “mindful of the indicia of danger to others is certainly there by those two charges.”
The judge said in an effort to help Johnson seek treatment she would grant him bond. Johnson was given a $20,000 bond for kidnapping, a $10,000 bond for impersonating a law enforcement officer, a nearly $2,000 bond for assault and $500 bond for petty larceny.
Johnson is expected to appear in court next on March 4 on Sullivans Island.
This comes amid a crackdown on illegal immigration as part of the Trump administration’s new orders.
