California man accused of hurling concrete blocks at federal agents during L.A.-area protests arrested
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A Compton man who allegedly hurled concrete blocks at federal officers last month in Paramount was arrested Wednesday after fleeing to Mexico, authorities said.
Elpidio Reyna, 39, was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list following a standoff between federal agents and protesters after the agents conducted an immigration raid at a nearby Home Depot on June 7.
In video captured by The Times, individuals can be seen hurling objects at moving federal vehicles. Representatives from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Marshals Service participated in the raid, according to a federal filing.
About 3:30 p.m. on June 7, Reyna allegedly threw concrete blocks at the cars, damaging the exterior of the vehicles and injuring a federal officer, according to the FBI.
The agent was inside one of the vehicles and suffered a hand laceration, according to the complaint filed against Reyna.
Reyna was charged the next day in a federal criminal complaint with assaulting a federal officer. In the complaint, prosecutors allege he was identified as the man wearing a “Zacatecas” jersey and a yellow helmet in a series of videos, one of which was posted to his TikTok account.
The government made an emergency disclosure request to TikTok and was able to find Reyna’s address in Compton, according to the complaint. Federal agents later confirmed he had fled to Mexico.
On June 11, the Department of Homeland Security announced a $50,000 reward to locate Reyna, according to a news release.
Reyna’s photograph and description were publicized in the United States and Mexico, including in an Instagram post from the official White House account. A poster circulated by the FBI said he was wanted for “the alleged assault of a federal officer.”
Coverage of the protests in downtown Los Angeles over President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops.
Mexican authorities took Reyna into custody in Sinaloa state shortly after the post was made public, and Reyna surrendered to the FBI on Wednesday, according to the bureau. He was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and taken to L.A., where he was expected to make his initial court appearance Wednesday.
“To anyone who thinks they can attack federal officers and hide behind a mask or helmet, Reyna’s arrest today proves we can find and charge anyone who violates federal law,” U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli wrote in a post on X. “Don’t touch our officers.”
A video accompanying the post shows Reyna being handcuffed, searched and put into a vehicle.
“The FBI will never tolerate violence against those who serve and protect this country,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X, adding that Reyna “will face justice.”
The case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attys. Thi Ho and Frances Lewis.
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