RICHLAND, WA – A registered sex offender from the Tri-Cities area is facing federal charges after allegedly assaulting two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during an attempted arrest in Pasco.
Victor Martin Lara-Lopez, 41, was charged with two counts of Assault on a Federal Officer following a June 13 incident in which ICE agents attempted to detain him on an administrative immigration warrant. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, Lara-Lopez refused to comply with officers, resisted arrest, and fled the scene in a pickup truck—nearly hitting the agents in the process.
Court documents indicate that ICE agents, who were wearing marked ballistic vests, approached Lara-Lopez after locating him in his F-350 truck. He refused to turn off the vehicle or identify himself and tried to roll up his window. When agents attempted to prevent him from driving off, Lara-Lopez allegedly reversed and then accelerated forward, forcing both agents to jump back to avoid being pinned. He then struck a government vehicle and drove off.
One officer sustained bruises, while the other experienced shoulder pain and reduced mobility.
Authorities were unable to locate Lara-Lopez for about a month. During that time, the Washington Department of Corrections also issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to report to his Community Corrections Officer. Lara-Lopez had been under supervision following a 2022 conviction for Child Molestation in the Second Degree involving a position of trust. He was serving a 36-month prison sentence followed by 36 months of supervised release and was barred from having contact with minors.
On July 15, law enforcement located the same F-350 truck on Highway 12 between Walla Walla and Pasco. A woman and a juvenile exited the vehicle after it was stopped. Lara-Lopez initially refused to comply but surrendered when informed that a K9 unit was on the way.
Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie Van Marter emphasized the seriousness of assaults on federal officers, stating, “It is not uncommon for law enforcement to be assaulted in the course of doing the job, which is not lawful and should never be acceptable. My office will continue to hold those accountable who use violence in attempt to avoid arrest.”
The case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel J. Holland.
Lara-Lopez remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
