The incident occurred at Malden District Court in Medford, where federal agents were conducting an immigration arrest. Bethany Abigail Terrill, 37, was present and reportedly intervened in the arrest process, leading to a confrontation with the agents. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Terrill was charged with threatening a United States official during the incident. The alleged threats included statements about harming the agents, which were captured on body-worn cameras and her mobile device.
The agents involved in the arrest described Terrill as belligerent and increasingly aggressive throughout the interaction. She reportedly yelled profanity at the agents, calling them ‘Nazis’ and ‘disgusting,’ before making explicit threats of violence. The agents, who were working collaboratively as part of a multi-agency effort to support the enforcement action, attempted to detain her to ensure there were no weapons involved. However, she resisted and required the assistance of three agents to be placed in restraints. During the struggle, she attempted to prevent the agents from securing her wrist with a cuff by hooking her finger.
Once the agents managed to handcuff Terrill, they attempted to calm her down and explained that her phone would be seized as evidence of the threat. She denied making any threatening statements and insisted the video be played to confirm its content. The agents confirmed the video clearly showed her making the threats, leading to her formal charges. Terrill is scheduled to make her first federal court appearance in Boston on Thursday, where the prosecution will argue the serious nature of her alleged actions, which could result in up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and the increasing use of technology, such as body-worn cameras and mobile devices, to document such interactions. Other similar cases have been reported, including a woman in Maine who allegedly tried to run over Border Patrol agents assisting in an immigration arrest. These cases underscore the complex dynamics between law enforcement and those who oppose immigration enforcement efforts, with significant legal and societal implications.