Overview
- Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Sheriff Bob Fletcher announced Monday a criminal investigation into the Jan. 18 detention of ChongLy “Scott” Thao for potential kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment.
- Officials say ICE agents broke Thao’s St. Paul door without a warrant, led him outside in underwear and a blanket in freezing weather, then returned him after realizing he is a U.S. citizen with no record.
- Prosecutors sent a formal Touhy request for DHS records and set an April 30 deadline to comply, warning they could sue or impanel a grand jury if the agency withholds evidence.
- DHS says agents were serving a warrant for two convicted sex offenders and denies kidnapping, though state prison records show one named target was incarcerated during the raid.
- Choi’s office says it has two active and three preliminary probes tied to Operation Metro Surge, while Minnesota and Hennepin County pursue lawsuits to obtain federal evidence from separate fatal shootings.