Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin released a statement Thursday after AL(dot)com suggested the police department contacted ICE after pulling over an illegal immigrant for driving one mile per hour over the speed limit.

The original article told the story of Giovanna Martinez, who was stopped on Interstate 20 on Tuesday by a Leeds police officer. The story quoted a GoFundMe account for Martinez, stating the young woman is a business owner and JSU graduate who worked with HICA (Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama).

Irwin responded Thursday afternoon on Facebook, apologizing for the “false narrative," adding that the reporter could’ve easily contacted him for information on the case.

“It is absurd to believe we stopped a vehicle for going one mile an hour over the speed limit on the inter

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