Dorchester County police oversight board records report of ICE detainment, accepts April minutes and moves to closed session

The Dorchester County Police Accountability Board accepted the minutes of its April 14 meeting, recorded an account that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detained a man at the Route 50 Diner, and then adjourned into a closed session, board members said.

Vice Chairman Derek Griffin, substituting for Chairman Riordan, said a manager at the Route 50 Diner told him that around 6:00 a.m. on one morning a group of people who “appeared to be police officers” entered the restaurant, went to the kitchen, detained an individual, placed him in handcuffs and escorted him out. Griffin said the manager later learned about the detention from the detained man’s son, who works at the restaurant. Griffin said there have been no official reports of ICE activity in the county but that the board should record the account and said local law enforcement should be notified when federal immigration enforcement operations occur.

"I understand what needs to be done based on the law, but I don't think there's any excuse for not coordinating with local law enforcement when you come into this jurisdiction," Griffin said. "I think it's not only a common courtesy, but a professional courtesy to let law enforcement know that you're in their area and you're there for the purpose of detaining and removing an individual."

The board also introduced Priscilla Rogers, who said, "I am Priscilla Rogers. I'm with the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office." Griffith and other board members noted appreciation for having full representation from local law enforcement agencies at the meeting.

The board voted by voice to accept the minutes of its April 14 meeting, covering both the open and closed sessions; the chair called the motion carried after members responded "aye." Later the chair asked for and received motions to move from the open session into a closed session for the remainder of the meeting and to adjourn; both motions were seconded and carried by voice vote. The meeting then recessed into closed session; the board did not disclose the substance of the closed-session discussion.

Board members discussed scheduling a ride-along; Griffin said he will schedule one but that medical appointments at Walter Reed have made his availability limited. The board did not announce any follow-up public actions or reports tied to the detainment account during the open session.

The board's statements in open session recorded an anecdotal report of an ICE detainment at a Route 50 Diner and emphasized expectations about coordination between federal agents and local law enforcement; no formal determination or enforcement action by the board was announced in open session.