Los Angeles, California — A federal judge has dismissed an indictment against a popular TikTok creator who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during a traffic stop earlier this year, citing violations of the defendant’s constitutional rights and prosecutorial failures.
U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin ruled that charges against Carlitos Ricardo Parias — accused of assaulting a federal officer and damaging government property — could not proceed because he was denied access to legal counsel while held in ICE custody and because prosecutors failed to provide critical evidence in a timely manner. In his order, Olguin said the deprivation of counsel caused “actual and threatened prejudice” that could not be remedied short of dismissal.
Parias was shot in the arm during an Oct. 21 traffic stop in Los Angeles after federal officers surrounded his vehicle. The Department of Homeland Security previously alleged that Parias attempted to ram law enforcement vehicles while trying to flee. A ricocheting bullet also injured a U.S. deputy marshal. Court records, however, describe a chaotic scene in which officers attempted to break the vehicle’s windows before shots were fired.
Following his arrest, Parias was transferred to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, where his attorneys said they were unable to secure timely legal access due to distance, scheduling barriers, and ICE detention procedures. Prosecutors also delayed turning over discovery materials, including body-worn camera footage, until weeks after court deadlines.
Parias, known online for livestreaming law enforcement activity in Spanish, had previously been recognized by a Los Angeles City Council office for community-focused reporting. Federal agencies did not immediately comment on the dismissal.
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