A disturbance Sunday in a parking lot at a Santa Maria strip mall ended up being related to crash involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation.

Officers with the Santa Maria Police Department responded at approximately 11:30 a.m. to the parking lot at Stowell Center Plaza in the 1500 block of South Broadway.

Police said the ICE agents were attempting to arrest an individual who had an arrest warrant. 

“During the course of the arrest, ICE agents were involved in a minor car accident with the suspect in the parking lot of Goodwill. ICE agents eventually forced entry into the vehicle and the individual was arrested,” Santa Maria police said. 

Bystanders quickly posted video of the incident on social media sites Sunday.

The name or age of the subject arrested was not provided. Additionally, no details were provided about the reason for the arrest warrant.

“After the arrest, a crowd of bystanders gathered. In an effort to keep the peace, SMPD officers remained on scene,” police said. 

ICE agents departed with the arrestee in custody, police added.

“The Santa Maria Police Department maintains a policy of non-participation in immigration related enforcement per California state law,” the department said in the written statement about the incident.

Community members with questions or concerns can contact ICE on a public information line at 1.855.488.6423 (1-855-48-VOICE).