Minnesota county investigates federal agents’ removal of US citizen from his home as a possible kidnapping | CNN

Officials in Ramsey County, Minnesota, on Monday announced a criminal investigation into the arrest of ChongLy Thao, a US citizen caught in a viral photo as immigration agents walked him out of his home in freezing weather wearing little more than Crocs, shorts, and a plaid blanket. The January 18 incident, which shocked residents in the Twin Cities area, “involves a felonious allegation of kidnapping, illegal detainment, false imprisonment,” Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said in a news conference. “We believe there was no legitimate legal reason for the federal agents to enter that home, it was not supported by probable cause,” Choi said. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said “ICE does not ‘kidnap’ people” in a statement to CNN. “This is nothing but a political stunt to demonize ICE law enforcement who are facing a 1300% increase in assaults against them as they arrest for the worst of the worst,” the statement read. The county attorney said Thao was forcibly removed from his home in St. Paul and taken out in subfreezing weather while wearing little clothing. He was questioned in the car away from his home for more than an hour, Choi said. How