DES MOINES, Iowa — ICE agents have detained Des Moines Public School District superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts on Friday, according to school board chair Jackie Norris.

“We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps,” Norris said.

WATCH: DMPS press conference after Dr. Ian Roberts’ ICE detainment

DMPS said Matt Smith, the district’s associate superintendent, has been named as interim superintendent.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said it received a mutual aid request from ICE shortly before 9 a.m. on Friday to help locate an individual who fled from a traffic stop and led a pursuit.

Iowa State Patrol and Special Agents reportedly responded and found the suspect, now known to be Dr. Roberts, and he was detained by immigration authorities. ICE said Roberts had a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash and a fixed blade hunting knife. 

Local 5 has confirmed Iowa State Patrol was present near the intersection of Indianola Avenue and Ewing Trace Boulevard.

“This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement,” said Sam Olson, the St. Paul field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.

It is a violation of federal law for those in the U.S. without legal status to possess a firearm and ammunition. ICE added that Roberts had existing weapon possession charges from 2020. DMPS said Roberts disclosed the charge, which was related to a hunting rifle, during his hiring process.

“He provided sufficient context and explanation of the situation to move forward in the hiring process,” a DMPS spokesperson said.

Sgt. Paul Parizek with Des Moines police told Local 5 that DMPD was not involved in Friday’s pursuit, and that officers “saw an unmarked car from some agency running lights/sirens.” The agency told Des Moines police “they didn’t need any help,” Parizek said.

Roberts is being held in the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, according to ICE and Woodbury County records.

According to a press release from ICE, Roberts is a Guyana National and was given a final order of removal by an immigration judge in May of 2024. DMPS said it did not have any knowledge of the order for removal. Roberts entered the United States in 1999 on a student visa, ICE said. 

Roberts graduated from Coppin State University in Maryland in 1998. In an article published by the university ahead of the 2020 Olympics, Roberts said he hopes to “return to my birthplace of Guyana, South America as a public servant.”

The City of Des Moines provided Local 5 with the following statement:

“The City of Des Moines is learning of Dr. Roberts’ detainment alongside the rest of the community. At this time, we do not have any additional information regarding this incident as the Des Moines Police Department was not involved and did not have prior knowledge of this search.”

Local 5 will update this story as more information becomes available. Download the We Are Iowa app or subscribe to Local 5’s “5 Things to Know” email newsletter for the latest. 

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