Frank de la Pena, a respected soccer coach and pillar of the Carthage community, is believed to have been kidnapped by Jasper County Sheriff’s deputies, according to a social media post.
According to the now viral social media post, Frank De la Pena was taken into custody by Jasper County Sheriff’s deputies while on his way to coach at the Fair Acres Field YMCA.
Now being held at Jasper County Jail for at least 48 hours, Frank’s detention has sparked outrage and concern among his family and supporters, who say his arrest is part of a troubling pattern of racial profiling and illegal detentions in the area.
The social media post also revealed that Frank de la Pena, who came to America as a child at age 16, has been legally pursuing American citizenship for years.
Despite this, local law enforcement allegedly targeted him during a routine traffic stop, a tactic critics describe as a cover for “Kidnapping” innocent people, especially people of color, under the pretense of law enforcement.
This practice, often referred to as “Driving while Brown,” involves profiling drivers based on race and detaining them without proper cause, frequently leaving no witnesses or evidence of the arrest, added the post.
Frank is known for his significant contribution to the Carthage Community and the sports field.
He founded the Carthage Soccer Academy, a non-profit organization that offers children a safe place to connect, learn, and grow.
Frank is also active in his church, spreading the gospel and providing spiritual support to those in need.
Furthemore, the whole Carthage community is coming forward to help Frank de le Pena during this difficult time.
Frank de la Pena’s Daughter Creates a GoFundMe Page To Help Her Father
One of the three daughters of Frank de la Pena, Sylvia Lindsey, has created a fundraiser to help her father.
She shared an emotional plea for support on behalf of her family through a GoFundMe page, which aims to reach $3k to cover paperwork and legal representation expenses to fight his deportation.
Sylvia described her father as a great father, son, brother, uncle, and grandpa.
She wrote that Frank de la Pena is not a criminal and has no criminal record. He was just a young boy when he arrived in the USA.
In addition to helping Frank de la Pena by raising funds, the community members plan to gather outside Jasper County Jail to demand justice, transparency, and to stand in solidarity with Frank and others who have faced similar treatment.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Frank de la Pena has three beautiful daughters named, Sylvia Lindsey, Karina de la Pena, and Mia Camarillo.
- His daughter, Sylvia, worked at the Missouri Department of Social Services.
