ICE Operation Leads to Arrest in Jacksonville Over Trooper Assault

Smiling Then, But Not Now

On January 13, 2026, an incident occurred on Beach Boulevard outside Mi Pueblo, a Mexican grocery store and meat market. Following this incident, 40-year-old Jennifer Cruz was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida.

The encounter happened during a collaboration between federal and state law enforcement. It involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers.

According to statements from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and police reports, Cruz interfered with the operation. She exited her vehicle (a white Dodge Ram 1500), and struck a state trooper in the face with a closed fist, causing injury to the officer’s nose and fingers that required hospitalization.

After detention, Cruz allegedly resisted arrest, fled briefly from troopers, and kicked at law enforcement personnel while being placed in a patrol vehicle.

Dashcam video released by authorities shows portions of the arrest, including her restraint and subsequent resistance. Cruz was booked into Duval County Jail.

She faces eight felony charges and six misdemeanor charges. This includes multiple counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, fleeing or eluding, assault on an officer, threatening death or harm to a law enforcement officer, refusing to obey a traffic officer, and driving with a suspended license.