Case: Peck v. John Doe 1
2:26-cv-00293 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maine
Filed Date: June 4, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
This is a case challenging the conduct of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents toward an observer in connection with “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine.
The plaintiff filed suit on June 4, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine against two unnamed federal agents acting in their individual capacities. The complaint arose from events connected to “Operation Catch of the Day,” an ICE operation launched on January 20, 2026, in Portland, Maine, and surrounding areas. The complaint alleged that in this operation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE had conducted a mass detention and deportation campaign targeting immigrants of color, employing tactics such as racial profiling, excessive force, warrantless arrests, and due process violations.
The complaint states that on January 22, 2026, while exercising his First Amendment rights to peacefully observe and document ICE agent activities from a safe distance in Scarborough, Maine, the plaintiff was approached by the defendants, who accused him of violating 18 U.S.C. § 111, a criminal statute that prohibits forcibly impeding or interfering with federal agents performing official duties, and threatened arrest if he continued documenting their activities. This is a charge the complaint alleged no reasonable officer could have believed was supported, given the statute's requirement of forcible conduct. As a result of the encounter, the plaintiff allegedly suffered ongoing physical and emotional harm, including shaking, insomnia, elevated blood pressure, depression, hypervigilance, and anxiety, and was chilled from continuing to observe DHS agents in public.
The complaint brought two counts under the Maine Civil Rights Act (MCRA), 5 M.R.S. § 4682—one for First Amendment retaliation and one for an unlawful seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The plaintiff sought declaratory relief, compensatory and punitive damages, an order requiring the defendants to indicate in any records that the plaintiff's conduct was lawful and their warning was unlawful, an order requiring the defendants to undergo training on the correct scope of 18 U.S.C. § 111, an injunction prohibiting the defendants from repeating this offense or otherwise retaliating against the plaintiff, nominal damages, attorney's fees, and costs. This case was assigned to District Judge John A. Woodcock Jr.
On August 3, 2026, the complaint was amended to also bring the case against the U.S. under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2671-80 (FTCA), for the tortious acts, under Maine law, of the unnamed defendants. These include the torts of assault, battery, false arrest and imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
This case remains ongoing.
Summary Authors
Madeline Dollard (8/5/2026)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73441419/parties/peck-v-john-doe-1/
BEARD, BRADEN ALEXANDER (Maine)
BUILES, ANA M. (Maine)
LEIGHTON, SHELBY (Maine)
TOWNSEND, ALLAN K. (Maine)
WEBBERT, DAVID G. (Maine)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73441419/peck-v-john-doe-1/
Last updated Sept. 15, 2026, 3:16 a.m.
Docket for: PECK v. JOHN DOE 1
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 4, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
An individual observer of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in connection with “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
United States of America
Private Entity/Person
John Doe 1
John Doe 2
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. § 2674
Constitutional Clause(s):
Unreasonable search and seizure
Other Dockets:
District of Maine 2:26-cv-00293
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Immigration/Border:
Case Summary of Peck v. John Doe 1, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48287/ (last updated 8/5/2026).