TikTok streamer pleads not guilty to assault on federal officer

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) - A man who livestreams immigration raids on social media and is purportedly living in the U.S. illegally -- and who was shot and arrested during a confrontation with federal agents in South Los Angeles -- pleaded not guilty today to an assault charge.

Carlitos Parias, 44, better known as Richard LA, who has more than 135,000 followers on TikTok and regularly posts videos documenting police, fire and immigration enforcement incidents in Los Angeles, is charged with assault on a federal officer, which could carry up to eight years in federal prison.

A trial date of Dec. 30 was scheduled in Los Angeles federal court.   

Parias remains in custody at a federal lockup downtown while the U.S. Attorney's Office appeals a magistrate judge's order granting him release on bond. A new detention hearing has yet to be scheduled.

According to prosecutors, federal agents conducting surveillance in South Los Angeles on Oct. 21 saw Parias -- who was the subject of an immigration arrest warrant and had previously avoided capture -- leave a home and get into a gray Toyota Camry, driving away eastbound.

Federal agents proceeded to use three vehicles to block the Camry in position, prosecutors said. Parias allegedly refused orders to exit the car, and instead began driving the Camry forward and back, hitting two of the federal vehicles. An agent tried to break the driver's side window of the Camry, prompting the suspect to drive more aggressively, spinning the car's wheels leading to ``large plumes of smoke,'' prosecutors said.   

Ultimately, a federal agent opened fire, wounding the suspect in the elbow, with a ricochet bullet then striking a U.S. marshal in a hand.   

Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price Jr.'s office once honored Richard LA for his work in the community.   

"Richard is a pillar of our community; a fearless citizen journalist whose authentic storytelling has consistently uplifted the unheard voices of South Central Los Angeles,'' according to a social media post by Price's office. "His unfiltered portrayal of real life has fostered a loyal following, both on TikTok and throughout our city. Richard LA exemplifies what it means to serve your community with courage and heart. ... We stand in solidarity with Richard and his family during this difficult time.''

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, previously issued a statement saying the confrontation involved "an illegal alien who had previously escaped from custody'' and who "attempted to evade arrest yet again."

"ICE law enforcement officers, assisted by U.S. marshals, pulled the illegal alien over in a standard law enforcement procedure,'' McLaughlin said. "The illegal alien weaponized his vehicle and began ramming the law enforcement vehicle in an attempt to flee. Fearing for the safety of the public and law enforcement, our officers followed their training and fired defensive shots. The illegal alien was shot in the elbow and one law enforcement officer was shot in the hand by a ricochet bullet."

McLaughlin said Parias had entered the country illegally from Mexico at an unknown time and place, according to the statement.