A Turkish citizen accused of fiercely resisting arrest and attempting to take an officer’s taser during an incident in Western New York has been apprehended, as reported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

ICE issued a statement on Tuesday identifying the suspect as 39-year-old Saim Irgi. According to the statement, during the altercation, Irgi allegedly engaged in a physical struggle with officers while shouting “Allahu akbar,” which translates to “God is great,” before being restrained and taken into custody.

Prior to Irgi’s detention, law enforcement officers in Buffalo were conducting a targeted operation in Tonawanda. They noticed a vehicle departing from a residence that was pertinent to their investigation on that particular day.

ICE Buffalo officers subsequently arrested Saim Irgi, who they identified as an undocumented immigrant from Turkey.

After trailing the vehicle and executing a traffic stop, the officers determined that the driver was Saim Irgi, a Turkish national who, according to officials, is residing in the United States without legal authorization.

Officers repeatedly ordered Irgi to exit the vehicle, but he refused. 

According to the statement, an ICE officer drew their taser and informed Irgi multiple times that if he didn’t stop resisting, he’d be tasered. 

While attempting to place Irgi in custody, officials allege Irgi grabbed an officer’s taser while screaming “Allahu Akbar,” at which point another officer deployed their taser to get control of the suspect.

ICE officials in Buffalo said the suspect had a history of criminal charges since entering the U.S. in 2023.  (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

He was later taken to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility, where medical staff cleared him for detention.

Authorities said Irgi has a history of criminal charges since illegally crossing the southern border in July 2023. 

According to ICE, U.S. Border Patrol agents first encountered Irgi near Jamul, California, after he’d crossed the border from Mexico.

The suspect remains in ICE custody with removal proceedings underway.

He was subsequently released into the country pending further immigration proceedings. 

In March, police in Pennsauken, New Jersey, arrested Irgi on charges of simple assault that were later dismissed. 

The same day, Philadelphia police arrested him on charges including strangling, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.

ICE Buffalo acting Field Office Director Tammy Marich described Irgi as “a significant public safety threat,” and said in the statement that officers “will continue to work tirelessly to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from the United States.”

After Monday’s arrest, Irgi remains in ICE custody as removal proceedings continue.