Fire department had ‘boats in the water’ after federal agents launched pursuit along Potomac

Federal law enforcement agents pursued several people who sprang from a vehicle on the Clara Barton Parkway Wednesday and ran into the Potomac River, authorities said.

U.S. Park Police, with other federal officers, were conducting an enforcement operation on the parkway. After the pursuit, two people were taken into custody and a search for the third person was called off, according to NBC4.

Park Police called 911 and said “we have people in the Potomac River and they need rescuing,” Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Chief David Pazos said on Thursday.

“We had boats in the water ready to assist. By the time that occurred, we were notified that all parties were out of the water,” he said.

Fire personnel were called shortly before 9:30 a.m. and responded to the parkway near Lock 7, Pazos said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement was the “arresting agency,” Park Police said. The Banner made multiple inquiries to ICE on Wednesday and Thursday that were not returned.

No information was available regarding charges or those who were arrested.

Montgomery County Police spokesperson Degan Bartels said in a statement that county police assisted in a limited capacity following a request from Park Police.

“MCPD’s role was limited solely to ensuring officer safety and providing assistance if rescue or emergency response became necessary,” Bartels said. “After it was determined that our assistance was not needed, MCPD officers disengaged from the incident.”

County police policy is to refrain from participating in federal civil immigration enforcement actions. MCPD officers did not participate in “the pursuit, detention, apprehension, or enforcement actions associated with this federal operation,” Bartels said.