Madison Man Charged With Assaulting Federal Officers Near Delaney Hall

MADISON, NJ - A Madison man was arrested May 28 and charged with assaulting federal officers and causing bodily injury during a demonstration near the ICE Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Brendan John Geier, 26, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais and was released with location monitoring, a curfew, and a prohibition on returning to Delaney Hall.

According to court documents, ICE Deportation Officers were conducting perimeter enforcement near the facility around 10:30 p.m. when a large group of demonstrators was blocking a road leading to and from the facility.

As officers moved toward the group and issued commands to clear the road, Geier lost his balance when one officer moved in his direction. Geier then kicked that officer in the leg. When additional officers moved in to assist, Geier bit one officer in the forearm and another in the knuckle, and kicked the first officer in the forearm. All three officers received treatment from on-site EMTs; two were also treated at a Newark hospital.

"Assaulting law enforcement officers is unacceptable. Period," Frazer said. "Federal officers must be able to carry out their responsibilities without being subjected to violence, intimidation, or obstruction."

The charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations Newark. ICE and the FBI also assisted. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sinclair of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations in the complaint are accusations only. Geier is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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