Dashcam footage shows Jacksonville woman’s arrest after alleged assault during joint ICE and Florida trooper operation

Dashcam videos document arrest tied to Beach Boulevard immigration operation

Dashcam footage released in mid-January shows the arrest of a Jacksonville woman accused of assaulting law enforcement officers during a joint federal-state immigration enforcement operation on the city’s Southside.

The incident occurred on January 13, 2026, along Beach Boulevard, near the parking area of Mi Pueblo, a multicultural grocery store. Federal immigration officers, assisted by the Florida Highway Patrol, were conducting an operation intended to locate and administratively arrest people alleged to be in the United States unlawfully. Authorities say the confrontation developed around a traffic stop connected to that effort.

What authorities allege happened before the struggle

Federal and state statements describe Jennifer Susan Cruz, 40, as driving by the scene while recording on her phone. Authorities allege she parked near the traffic stop, yelled at a trooper, and refused to turn over her vehicle keys when troopers attempted to detain her. A federal complaint alleges she then struck a trooper in the face with a closed fist.

Investigators also allege Cruz resisted arrest and attempted to strike and kick officers as multiple law enforcement personnel moved in to take her into custody. During the effort to place her into a patrol vehicle, authorities allege she kicked at a trooper and at least two federal officers, resulting in injuries to personnel at the scene.

What the newly circulated videos show

The dashcam recordings show multiple officers surrounding the woman near her vehicle and forcing her to the ground as she shouts and resists instructions. The videos also show a prolonged attempt to secure her in the rear of a patrol vehicle, with officers repeatedly repositioning her legs and arms. In one segment, the footage shows officers using a Taser while trying to place her into the car after she kicks toward personnel.

The recordings contain repeated profanity and warnings are typically issued for graphic language.

Charges filed in state and federal systems

In Duval County, jail records list multiple charges arising from the arrest, including battery on law enforcement and resisting an officer with violence. Separately, a federal criminal complaint charges Cruz with assaulting officers conducting an immigration operation; the case carries a maximum penalty of up to eight years in federal prison if convicted.

Broader local impact near the scene

Mi Pueblo’s co-owner said the law enforcement action occurred within about 25 feet of the business and that viral sharing of the video led to confusion and customer concern, despite the store not being involved in the operation.

• Date of incident: January 13, 2026
• Location: Beach Boulevard area on Jacksonville’s Southside
• Key issue in dispute: alleged interference with an immigration-related traffic stop and alleged assault during detention