Welcome to Arrest Stories. A former Olympic athlete turned school superintendent was arrested by federal agents after fleeing during a traffic stop, found with weapons and cash despite having a deportation order. Here's what may have happened.
On September twenty-sixth, fifty-four-year-old Ian Andre Roberts, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in what officials describe as a targeted enforcement operation. Roberts, who competed in the two thousand Sydney Olympic Games as a mid-distance runner for Guyana, had been leading Iowa's largest school district since July two thousand twenty-three.
According to federal authorities, Roberts entered the United States in nineteen ninety-nine on a student visa but had overstayed his authorization. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal in May two thousand twenty-four, yet Roberts continued working in his superintendent role without proper work authorization.
The dramatic arrest unfolded when ICE officers approached Roberts during the enforcement operation. Instead of complying, Roberts allegedly sped away in his vehicle, leading to a brief pursuit. Officers later discovered his abandoned car near a wooded area, where they apprehended Roberts after he fled on foot.
At the time of arrest, agents found Roberts in possession of a loaded handgun, three thousand dollars in cash, and a fixed blade hunting knife. Court records show Roberts previously faced weapons possession charges in February two thousand twenty.
An ICE spokesperson stated, "This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement. How this illegal alien was hired without work authorization, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge is beyond comprehension."
The school district released a statement saying, "Dr. Roberts has been an integral part of our school community since he joined two years ago. We do not have all the facts."
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.