Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco is accused of following a hairstylist for nearly 30 minutes on October 14, confronting him and believing he was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent operating in a bizarre "role-playing" scenario. The incident, detailed in a criminal complaint, involved Pacheco allegedly blocking the stylist's vehicle.
Surveillance footage provided by the stylist's attorney, Eric Bridges, appears to show an orange Nissan Altima, believed to be driven by Pacheco, following a white car through a neighborhood. During a verbal altercation captured on video, a man is heard mentioning ICE and accusing someone of following him for an extended period. In another video, a woman resembling Pacheco is seen in the Nissan as it drives away, prompting an angry verbal response from the man.
Bridges' attorney, Roger Bonakdar, stated that his client has no affiliation with ICE. The complaint alleges that Pacheco told Bridges she was "looking for ICE and you look like ICE" and identified herself as "someone important" but refused to provide further details. Bridges has filed complaints with the Fresno Police Department and the Fresno County District Attorney's Office, intending to pursue charges against Pacheco.
"As an elected official and a representative for a California legislator, Ms. Pacheco isn't a peace officer and has no business role-playing as one for social media clout or political favor," Bonakdar told Fox 26. "Mr. Bridges has been seriously harmed as a consequence of Maria Pacheco’s careless politicking, and he will pursue every avenue available for justice."
Pacheco has dismissed the complaint as "ridiculous," telling The Fresno Bee, "If he wants to go to court, then we’ll go to court. That’s all I can say."
The allegations surface as Pacheco is campaigning for a seat on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. She recently gained attention for recording a video of alleged ICE agents detaining individuals outside a Kerman bakery on October 8, which garnered significant online attention amid discussions about immigration policy.