By Ryan Gueningsman
Managing Editor

MEDINA, MN – A traffic stop Tuesday morning by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) agents led to the arrest of four people in Medina near the Holiday Stationstore at Highway 12 and Hennepin County Road 19.

The ensuing investigation led to agents interviewing a suspected illegal alien, according to Shawn Neudauer, public affairs officer for the ICE in the Twin Cities.

“During the encounter, four people were arrested,” Neudauer said. “Two individuals traveling with the suspect fled into a wooded area.”

Local police were called to assist with locating these individuals. The search for them was called off shortly afterwards.

Medina Police Chief Ed Belland said Medina Police were called to assist on a traffic stop for Homeland Security.

“We assisted, set up a perimeter, and were not able to locate the two men, using canines,” Belland said. “No crime was committed and the men were not known felons, so the search was given up.”

All ICE operations are based on investigative leads and intelligence, Neudauer added.