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An incident at the Laugh Factory in Chicago has led to the arrest of a manager accused of interfering with a federal immigration operation. The manager’s mother, however, described the situation as a “kidnapping” that unfolded before her eyes.
According to the Chicago Police Department, officers were dispatched to the comedy club around 9:20 a.m. on Friday following reports of an ongoing physical confrontation, NBC Chicago reported. Upon arrival, they found federal agents engaged in a struggle with two individuals.
A widely circulated video captures the dramatic scene, showing federal agents forcibly bringing night manager Nathan Griffin to the ground while bystanders shouted for the agents to desist.
The footage reveals a tense physical confrontation involving Griffin, his mother Elaine Plybon, and federal agents.
As Griffin was lifted off the ground and escorted into a vehicle, onlookers could be heard shouting, “Why are you doing this? Where are you taking him?” amidst the turmoil.
“Let us see your face,” another person screamed.
Witness Will Kolic, who works nearby and knows the club’s manager, told NBC Chicago he saw multiple cars pull up and men grab a man who appeared to be Hispanic.
Kolic said agents then “jumped out of their car” and snatched the Laugh Factory’s manager while he was standing with his mother.
It’s not clear who started it, but at one point, agents are seen restraining the mother on the ground.
A Border Patrol spokesperson told NBC Chicago that Griffin was detained after he “attempted to impede and obstruct federal officers,” and claims he attempted to shut the door of the federal agents’ car on an agent’s leg.
“The individual was immediately detained and turned over to the FBI for investigation,” Border Patrol said.
His upset mother posted a video on Instagram telling her followers that her son was “kidnapped by Border Patrol in front of my eyes.”
“For those of you who don’t know, I was in Chicago visiting my son, and he was kidnapped by Border Patrol in front of my eyes,” Plybon said.
“When I think about going out the door in the morning, I don’t want to… Because I do not want to encounter the SUV, the screams, the crying and the horrific things that I saw before I was pulled into the fray when somebody tried to kidnap my son.”
The brother-in-law of the Laugh Factory’s night manager and his mother have since launched a GoFundMe to help Griffin raise money for legal funds.
“My brother in law Nathan was detained by border patrol officers today in Chicago, despite the fact that he is a natural-born American citizen,” Tom Pinney wrote.
“After being arrested and hidden throughout the system, he finally resurfaced about 4 hours after his detainment in FBI custody awaiting a hearing for a federal assault charge which could carry 8 years in prison if convicted.”
The GoFundMe has since raised more than $20,000 since being created on Saturday.
“The amazing outpouring of support is reminding us of the America we love. We cannot thank you enough!” Plybon wrote in an update on the fundraising page.
