The episode took place on Sept. 21 at 2:46 p.m., when a Fairfax County police officer was handling a traffic accident in the Groveton community south of the city of Alexandria, the chief’s statement said.

The officer found that one of the drivers involved in the accident did not have a Virginia driver’s license, and conducted a check to verify the person’s Department of Motor Vehicles record, the statement said. In doing so, the officer received a notification from ICE that the driver was wanted on an administrative violation warrant for failing to appear for a deportation hearing.

The officer then contacted the ICE agent listed on the warrant, gave the driver a summons for not having a license, and after the person signed the summons, the officer detained the person, the police statement said. The officer then turned over custody of the driver to the ICE agent at the location of the accident.

Chief Roessler said the department’s arrest policy since 2007 and its training had been “very clear” that personnel do not enforce administrative warrants or take people into custody for them. He said that the driver was released from ICE custody after three hours and issued an ankle monitor.