Border patrol commander Gregory Bovino says he and federal immigration agent were stalked for hours by protestors Wednesday.
Bovino and federal agents eventually clashed with them outside a south Minneapolis convenience store where agents - including Bovino - used chemical irritants against the crowd.
"I don't think any of us would like to be stalked, but being stalked for 8 or 10 hours at a time is not a very favorable climate," Bovino said. "Hey folks, where were the cops yesterday? Where was Minneapolis Police Department during that 8 hour stalking events? Anybody, care to venture a guess? I'd like to venture a guess. And it's, I don't know."
Bovino saying they received no help from Minneapolis police, referencing several incidents on Wednesday where federal agents clashed with protesters.. He claims they've made multiple calls to the MPD that don't get answered.
"Citizens were failed twice yesterday. They were failed twice yesterday," Bovino claimed. "First, as I said, the response from Minneapolis Police Department and other local agencies? Missing in action. That's what you call missing in action."
He also claims two federal agents were trapped in a restaurant while off duty and MPD didn't show up.
"And they were descended upon by that violent mob, and the staff of that restaurant in downtown Minneapolis decided to try to lock them in the restaurant with those 40 to 50 agitators," Bovino added. "Minneapolis Police Department was called. They never showed up. Our agents were in there for 45 minutes and we called a tactical team that went out to extract those agents from that restaurant. So that's what we're up against."
In one instance Bovino himself was seen on video attempting to throw tear gas into a crowd gathered by a Minneapolis park.
Bovino told reporters Thursday morning they have no definitive timeline as to when they'll leave, saying 'they'll leave when every criminal illegal alien is detained.'
WCCO Radio has reached out to the Minneapolis Police Department for comment on the accusations.