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Legal representatives representing a producer from Chicago's local TV network who was temporarily detained by government officers last week characterize the incident as "an occurrence that ought to alarm and frighten every person in this country".

Details of the Detainment

The journalist, a US citizen and WGN employee, was taken into custody on Friday by federal agents during an ICE operation in a North Side Chicago area. Footage from the scene show the producer being forced to the ground by officers before she is handcuffed and put in a van.

At the time, a homeland security official claimed that Brockman "threw objects at border patrol's car" 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 filed against her.

Legal Team's Reaction

In a statement issued by lawyers acting for the journalist on Tuesday, her representatives disputed the government's account. They stated they "strongly refute any allegation that she assaulted anyone" and that "Brockman was the one who was physically attacked by federal agents on her way to work" on the date in question.

Her lawyers say that at the time of the detainment, the journalist was "not performing in any professional capacity as an employee for the station" but that she was just "heading to the bus stop as part of her morning commute when she was confronted by Border Patrol agents.

"The individual, who is a US Citizen native to the US, was violently detained on a city street," the statement adds. "As this happened, bystanders on the street began recording the event and asked Ms Brockman her name."

The release indicates that she informed the onlookers her name and that she worked at the station, in the hopes that "a person would notify her workplace so colleagues would know that she would not be coming at work that day", her attorneys said.

Aftermath and Next Steps

Based on her lawyers, Brockman was kept in federal custody for about seven hours before being released.

"The individual has not been charged with any crimes and she intends to explore all legal options open to her to uphold her entitlements and hold the federal authorities accountable for their conduct," the release notes.

"Brad Thomson, a legal representative, added in the statement: "When equipped, masked, government officers are snatching American nationals off the street as they walk to work and placing them in unmarked vehicles, you can only conceive what these officers must be prepared to do to our immigrant neighbors and people who choose to protest against them."

"Ms Brockman was forced down, struck, handcuffed, and her trousers were lowered exposing her uncovered skin," Thomson said. "Not anyone should be treated like that in this city, in this country or any other place in the world."

Immigration authorities, the federal agency, and the border agency did not provide a prompt reply to requests for comment from the media.