THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOW BEING HELD IN THE WOODBURY COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER JAIL.
54-YEAR-OLD IAN ANDRE ROBERTS WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE FACILITY LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
HE WAS ARRESTED BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICERS FRIDAY MORNING AFTER A PURSUIT IN DES MOINES.
A STATEMENT FROM ICE SAYS WHEN ROBERTS WAS ARRESTED, HE WAS IN POSSESSION OF A LOADED HANDGUN, $3000 IN CASH AND A FIXED BLADE HUNTING KNIFE.
ICE SAYS OFFICERS APPROACHED ROBERTS FRIDAY IN A TARGETED OPERATION, AND WHEN THEY APPROACHED HIS VEHICLE, HE SPED AWAY, LATER ABANDONING THE VEHICLE IN A WOODED AREA.
THE IOWA STATE PATROL ASSISTED IN FINDING AND APPREHENDING HIM.
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY ROBERTS IS A CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIEN FROM GUYANA.
JACKIE NORRIS, CHAIR OF THE DES MOINES SCHOOL BOARD, SAYS ROBERTS HAD BEEN AN EDUCATOR IN OTHER STATES FOR 20 YEARS WHEN HE GOT A STATE LICENSE TO LEAD THE DES MOINES DISTRICT IN JULY OF 2023.
DMSUPT1 OC…..IS ACCURATE.” :08
AUTHORITIES SAY ROBERTS HAD AN OUTSTANDING WEAPONS POSSESSION CHARGE FROM FEBRUARY OF 2020.
THEY SAY HE ENTERED THE U.S. ON A STUDENT VISA IN 1999 AND WAS GIVEN A FINAL ORDER OF REMOVAL BY AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE IN MAY OF 2024.
