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U.S. citizen comedy club manager arrested by Border Patrol, charges later dismissed

Dec 10, 2025 · Chicago, IL

U.S. citizen comedy club manager arrested by Border Patrol, charges later dismissed

Nathan Griffin, a U.S. citizen and night manager of the Laugh Factory comedy club in Lakeview, was arrested by masked Border Patrol agents on October 24, 2025, outside the club at Belmont and Broadway during immigration enforcement operations on the North Side. Agents accused him of interfering with a federal officer and assaulting an agent by closing a vehicle door on the agent's leg while the agent was searching for a body-worn camera believed dropped during a prior immigration-related arrest. Video posted by the club showed multiple masked agents in full camouflage wrestling Griffin to the ground as bystanders screamed that he had done nothing wrong. Griffin's mother, Elaine Plybon, was also physically engaged with agents while attempting to stop her son's arrest. Griffin was initially charged with one count of forcibly assaulting, impeding, and interfering with a federal officer, facing up to 8 years in prison if convicted. Federal prosecutors dropped all charges on December 10, 2025, after a federal grand jury refused to indict him by returning a 'no bill.'

Timeline

Dec 10, 2025Federal grand jury refused to indict Griffin; federal prosecutors dropped all charges without prejudice
Oct 24, 2025Nathan Griffin arrested by masked Border Patrol agents outside Laugh Factory at Belmont and Broadway during North Side immigration enforcement operations; accused of closing vehicle door on agent's leg and interfering with federal officer; video documented agents wrestling him to the ground as bystanders objected; his mother also engaged with agents
Oct 24, 2025Griffin charged with one count of forcibly assaulting, impeding, and interfering with a federal officer; facing up to 8 years in prison if convicted

Sources

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