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Legal representatives acting for a producer from the city of Chicago's WGN television station who was briefly held by federal agents last week characterize the incident as "an occurrence that ought to alarm and horrify every person in this nation".

Particulars of the Arrest

The journalist, a American national and WGN employee, was taken into custody on Friday by federal agents during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. Videos from the scene depict the producer being forced to the ground by two agents before she is restrained and placed in a van.

At the moment, a government spokesperson claimed that Brockman "threw objects at an official vehicle" and was "placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer".

Later on Friday, WGN confirmed that Brockman had been freed from detention and that no charges had been pressed against her.

Legal Team's Response

In a news release released by attorneys acting for Brockman on earlier this week, her representatives disputed the official version. They stated they "adamantly deny any claim that she assaulted anyone" and that "Brockman was the one who was physically attacked by officers on her way to work" on the date in question.

Her attorneys explain that at the time of the arrest, the journalist was "not performing in any professional capacity as an staff member for WGN" but that she was just "walking to the transit point as part of her daily travel when she was attacked by federal officers.

"The individual, who is a American citizen born in this country, was violently detained on Foster Avenue," the release continues. "As this occurred, individuals on the street began filming the incident and inquired her her name."

The release says that she told the onlookers her name and that she worked at the station, in the hopes that "a person would inform her workplace so colleagues would know that she would not be coming at work that day", her lawyers stated.

Aftermath and Next Steps

Based on her lawyers, the journalist was kept in federal custody for about seven hours before being freed.

"The individual has not been accused with any offenses and she intends to pursue all legal avenues open to her to uphold her entitlements and hold the federal authorities accountable for their actions," the release adds.

"One attorney, a legal representative, added in the release: "When equipped, covered, federal agents are snatching US citizens off the street as they walk to work and placing them in non-descript cars, you can only imagine what these agents must be prepared to do to our foreign-born residents and individuals who dare to protest against them."

"Ms Brockman was taken to the ground, battered, handcuffed, and her pants were pulled down revealing her uncovered skin," the lawyer stated. "Not anyone should be handled like that in this metropolis, in this nation or any other place in the world."

Immigration authorities, the Department of Homeland Security, and the US Customs and Border Protection did not provide a prompt reply to inquiries from the media.