Whitefish paid $90,000 after a cop called Border Patrol on a legal Venezuelan worker
On April 24, 2025, Whitefish police officer Michael Hingiss stopped Beker Rengifo del Castillo, a Venezuelan man in the U.S. legally under a federal parole program with work authorization, for a broken light. Although he showed a valid REAL ID-compliant license, the officer called U.S. Customs and Border Protection, citing a language barrier, and Rengifo del Castillo spent nearly a week in the ICE detention center in Tacoma. His August 2025 federal lawsuit alleged racial profiling, unconstitutional seizure, false arrest and failure to train. In April 2026 the City of Whitefish agreed to pay $90,000, covered by its insurer, the Montana Municipal Interlocal Authority, admitting no wrongdoing. The city said it stands behind its officers. Police Chief Bridger Kelch, also named, remains chief; Hingiss is a former officer.
Under the terms of the agreement with Rengifo del Castillo, the city of Whitefish did not admit to any wrongdoing and in a press release release said the $90,000 sum would be covered by the city’s insurance provider, Montana Municipal Interlocal Authority.
But Hingiss called Customs and Border Protection “due to a language barrier,” according to the complaint, and then left Del Castillo with a federal officer to “continue” an immigration investigation.
The city of Whitefish will pay $90,000 to settle a lawsuit accusing police officers of racial profiling a man from Venezuela.
The city says it stands firmly behind its officers and settled only because litigation would cost more.
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Settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing; City Manager Dana Meeker said litigation costs would far exceed it.
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No outcome recorded yet.