ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — A former nurse at Trinity Health Ann Arbor is facing a federal criminal charge after allegedly helping an illegal alien in U.S. Border Patrol custody escape from the hospital.
Chloe Renae Freeman, 33, has been charged with one count of instigating or assisting escape. She pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison. She appeared in court Tuesday, Sept. 29, and was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Her next court date is Oct. 20.
The Alleged Timeline
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A federal criminal complaint filed Aug. 28 in the Eastern District of Michigan details the allegations. According to the complaint, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man identified by the initials “OBP” during a targeted immigration enforcement operation May 28 in Ann Arbor.
The complaint describes OBP as a native and citizen of Mexico who had previously been removed from the United States through Nogales, Arizona, in December 2022. Authorities said he had not obtained permission to reapply for admission to the United States following his removal.
According to the complaint, OBP fled when agents approached him, tripped over a curb and hit his face on the pavement. Agents took him into custody, provided first aid and called emergency medical personnel, who transported him to Trinity Health Ann Arbor for further evaluation.
The complaint says hospital badge swipe records showed Freeman accessed the second-floor CT scan room May 28. Security footage then showed OBP leaving the hospital through the ambulance bay doors.
“Set Him Free”
During a June 18 interview with hospital investigators, Freeman admitted to removing OBP’s IV and escorting him outside before his treatment was complete and before he was properly discharged. In addition, the court filing said Freeman knew he was an ICE custody patient but claimed she did not believe he was in custody at that moment because agents were not physically with him in the CT scan room.
The complaint states that Freeman told hospital investigators she disagreed with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) separating people from their families and knew she “was going to set him free.”
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Authorities had not located OBP as of the complaint’s filing.
Trinity Health Ann Arbor said Freeman is no longer employed there and declined to comment on the specific allegations or ongoing court proceedings.
