A dramatic Reddit video racked up more than 2,500 upvotes and 287 comments before moderators locked it, preventing further engagement. The footage shows men in camouflage and tactical gear using what appears to be an assault-style rifle to smash the window of a white crossover parked in a private driveway. Agents then zip-tied the women inside the vehicle and led them away. According to witnesses, it all started because they honked their horn. The footage is embedded below.

ICE/CBP abducted 2 US Citizens for allegedly honking their car horns to warn of a kidnapping patrol in Charlotte, NC. The video shows heavily armed agents using an AR15 muzzle to smash out a car window before zip tying the women (11/18/25)
byu/I_may_have_weed inPublicFreakout

Fact-checkers at Snopes confirmed the footage is real. Many of the officers have their faces covered, and their uniforms appear mismatched. At least one officer wears a shoulder patch labeled “BORSTAR,” which stands for Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue. The unit is headquartered in El Paso, Texas.

The incident occurred in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was one of several arrests connected to DHS’ “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” which began on Nov. 15, 2025. By Nov. 17, DHS announced it had detained more than 130 people suspected of residing in Charlotte without legal status. The women in the white crossover were not among those individuals.

One woman’s husband later spoke to local media. He said his wife is a U.S. citizen. Authorities reportedly detained her for several hours at an FBI facility before releasing her with an order to appear in court. Officials have not yet published the citation. According to her husband, agents accused her of “driving erratically.”

Another neighbor, identified as R. Shea Watts, filmed part of the incident. She adds that agents accused the women of “assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees.” Watts said agents also claimed the women honked their horn to warn residents that DHS officers were in the neighborhood.

Is warning others about police activity legal?

Courts have repeatedly ruled that warning others about the presence of police officers is protected by the First Amendment. In Friend v. Gasparino (2023), judges affirmed that drivers may legally alert others to police activity. For example, flashing high beams to warn of a speed trap is protected speech.

However, not every officer is familiar with those rulings. As a result, some drivers still get arrested.

In 2022, Jonathan Guessford of Delaware stood roadside holding a sign reading “Radar Ahead.” Police officers approached, tore up his sign, and later chased him down after he flipped them off while driving away. Guessford sued and won a $50,000 settlement after a judge ruled his constitutional rights had been violated (Motor1).

Even when officers are legally wrong, resisting arrest is never advisable. During a traffic stop, officers may order drivers or passengers out of a vehicle. If occupants refuse to comply, officers may use force, including breaking a window. You may prevail in court later, but confronting force with force risks serious injury—or worse.