Restaurant Workers Taken Into Custody While Carpooling To Work

EAST ALTON/BETHALTO - A man wanted in a murder investigation was arrested Tuesday morning, March 3, 2026, in the parking lot of Eastgate Plaza in East Alton, and local officials said the case was separate from a federal operation last week in Bethalto in which four employees of a Mexican restaurant were taken into custody.

East Alton Police Chief Scott Golike said the person arrested at Eastgate Plaza was wanted in a murder investigation by the U.S. Marshals Office and that the arrest was not related to the earlier incident involving El Mezcal workers taken into custody in the Arby’s parking lot this past Friday. Golike said East Alton Police were not involved in the Eastgate Plaza apprehension.

In Bethalto, El Mezcal management said four employees were taken into custody by agents last Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. One of the restaurant’s managers said the workers were on their way to the restaurant for a work detail when they were pulled over and apprehended in the Arby’s parking lot in Bethalto. The manager said the four workers were carpooling when the apprehension occurred.

El Mezcal management said the four workers did not have any criminal records and were taken into custody by ICE and FBI agents.

Jason Lamb, the Bethalto Police chief, said his department was not involved in the situation in the Arby’s parking lot and said it was “completely a federal situation.”

German Gonzales of El Mezcal management said the restaurant has been affected by the loss of employees.

“It has definitely hurt us,” Gonzales said. “We are trying to do the best we can in their absence.” El Mezcal is located at 705 Texas Boulevard in Bethalto.

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski said her office had been contacted by the restaurant about the El Mezcal situation.

“I have been closely monitoring this situation and my office has been in contact with the restaurant to gather as much information as possible,” Budzinski said.

“While there are still details that we are working to confirm, this appears to be yet another instance of ICE entering our communities and going after folks either on their way to work, dropping off their kids, or at times, literally on the job,” Budzinski said. “They are tearing families apart and spreading fear throughout our communities — and these actions do not make us safer. I will continue pressing for transparency, demanding answers, and seeking updates on their well-being.”

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