Garcés Pérez held without bond; bullet removed after 11 days

A federal magistrate judge found probable cause and denied bond for Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, the Venezuelan delivery driver shot by an ICE officer in Austin, ruling Wednesday that he may flee. Garcés Pérez appeared in a wheelchair with his left arm in a sling — the bullet was still in his back at the time of the hearing. Prosecutors played bodycam footage they say shows his car's side mirror striking an officer; he faces one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer.

His lawyer accused ICE of denying him medical care. The bullet was surgically removed the next day, after 11 days, and he was returned to federal custody. Deportation remains blocked while the criminal case proceeds. New details from the hearing: the second officer's body camera was turned off during the pursuit, and the partner-shooter remains on leave, with HSI, the FBI, Austin police, Texas Rangers, and local prosecutors all running probes.

Sources: AP via Reflector, Eyes on ICE.