Illegal immigrant suspect charged in crash that killed police officer and his girlfriend

The pistillate charged successful the drunken driving clang that killed an off-duty Connecticut constabulary serviceman and his longtime woman past period is successful the U.S. illegally, national authorities said Monday, arsenic U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) urged authorities officials not to merchandise her if she is freed from custody.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to Fox News Digital that ICE lodged a detainer against Melissa Esperanza Ramirez Romero, 27, days aft the Stamford pistillate was arrested successful transportation with the July 13 head-on clang that killed Bridgeport Police Officer Cooper Whiteside, 38, and Brittany Islami, 34.

"Melissa Esperanza Ramirez-Romero is simply a transgression amerciable alien with charges for Vehicular Manslaughter and DUI. On July 26, 2026, ICE lodged a detainer against her," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

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In a station connected X, DHS wrote that "an amerciable alien KILLED A COP successful Danbury, Connecticut" and urged Connecticut's "sanctuary politicians" to cooperate with ICE and guarantee Ramirez is not released backmost into the community.

Melissa Esperanza Ramirez Romero was charged successful transportation with the July 13 clang that killed Bridgeport Police Officer Cooper Whiteside and Brittany Islami. (Danbury Police Department)

Ramirez is charged with 2 counts of second-degree manslaughter with a centrifugal vehicle, operating nether the influence, traveling unreasonably accelerated and nonaccomplishment to thrust successful the due lane.

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Danbury constabulary said the clang happened astir 2:45 a.m. July 13 connected Sugar Hollow Road, wherever a Jeep Compass collided head-on with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Officers recovered Whiteside of Danbury and his passenger, Islami of New Milford, dormant astatine the scene. Ramirez was taken to Danbury Hospital with superior injuries.

Bridgeport Police Officer Cooper Whiteside, who was killed successful a July 13 clang successful Danbury, Connecticut, shares a infinitesimal with his canine successful an undated household photo. (Bridgeport Police Department / X)

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Whiteside, a Danbury autochthonal who dreamed of becoming a constabulary serviceman since childhood, graduated 3rd successful his constabulary academy people and served with the Bridgeport Police Department for 2 years earlier helium was killed.

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The section mourned Whiteside's decease the time aft the crash, saying helium "served with selfless dedication" portion extending its condolences to his household and loved ones.

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"Rest easy, brother," the section wrote. "We'll instrumentality it from here."

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A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement serviceman is seen successful an undated record photo. Federal authorities said ICE lodged a detainer against the Connecticut pistillate charged successful a clang that killed an off-duty Bridgeport constabulary serviceman and his longtime girlfriend. (Getty Images)

The DHS announcement came arsenic Connecticut officials worked to close mendacious claims that Ramirez had been registered to vote.

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Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas said successful a video that Ramirez has ne'er been registered to ballot successful Connecticut and that an guiltless U.S. national with the aforesaid sanction was mistakenly identified online, starring to decease threats against the unrelated woman.

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"The suspect charged successful transportation with the July 13 clang that killed an off-duty Bridgeport constabulary serviceman is not and has ne'er been registered to ballot successful Connecticut," Thomas said. "The elector registration grounds circulating online belongs to a antithetic idiosyncratic entirely. Another Melissa Ramirez, a United States national who lives successful New Britain, is legally registered to ballot successful Connecticut."

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Danbury constabulary besides warned that aggregate radical with akin names had been mistakenly identified online and urged the nationalist to verify accusation earlier sharing it.

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Ramirez remained held connected a $500,000 enslaved pending her adjacent tribunal appearance.