Shocking video captures moment fake ICE agent grabs McDonald’s worker and threatens to deport him
A shocking incident unfolded Thursday at a McDonald’s in upscale La Jolla, San Diego, when a man pretending to be an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent attacked a store manager and threatened him with deportation.
Joshua Cobb, 40, is accused of assaulting Daniel Martinez while impersonating a federal agent. Surveillance video reportedly shows Cobb jumping behind the counter and putting Martinez in a chokehold during a chaotic lunchtime confrontation.
“Why do you think your 911 phone calls aren’t [expletive] working?” Cobb shouted in the footage, moments after grabbing Martinez by the neck. Cobb, dressed in jeans, an oversized NASA t-shirt, and a backwards cap, first identified himself as a federal agent before moving behind the counter and attacking the manager.
The struggle continued around the kitchen near a drink machine until other McDonald’s employees intervened, eventually stopping the assault. Cobb remained in the restaurant afterward, continuing a bizarre and threatening rant.
CLICK “WATCH ON YOUTUBE” TO WATCH IDEO BELOW
“Why do you think I’m willing to take two punches in the [expletive] face with some illegal immigrants while making an ICE arrest?” Cobb reportedly said. Police noted that Cobb, described as a local vagrant, could have seriously injured Martinez with the rear-naked chokehold.
Martinez, who has worked at the busy Nobel Drive location for six years, told reporters that Cobb was a regular customer.
“He just comes in to grab sodas and leaves a mess,” Martinez said. “He grabbed me from behind and really hard on the neck. My coworkers jumped in, and he let go, but then he punched me on the side.”
Cobb was arrested, charged with misdemeanor assault and impersonating an officer, and later released. He could not be reached for comment.
San Diego Police Department spokesman Lt. Cesar Jimenez emphasized the importance of clarifying Cobb’s false claims. “Because of concerns in California regarding ICE agents and the use of force, we wanted to make sure people knew this individual was not an ICE agent,” he said.
McDonald’s and the store’s staff declined to comment on the incident.
About Post Author
