Border News

2 taken into custody in border-area gunfire

By Aaron Mackey
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.26.2007

A person injured Saturday when a Border Patrol agent fired at an oncoming vehicle was treated at a hospital and released.

That person and a passenger who was in the vehicle at the time remain in custody on unspecified charges.

The agency provided few details Sunday but gave the following account:
Agents tried to stop a Lincoln Navigator driving north on Arizona 286 about 10 miles north of the Sasabe port of entry, said Jesus Rodriguez, a Border Patrol spokesman.

An agent got out of his vehicle and approached the sport utility vehicle, which appeared to have stopped.

The SUV quickly turned around around and came toward the agent, who fired his gun because he felt threatened. The Navigator didn't strike the agent, and was driven away. It was later stopped in Sasabe, Rodriguez said.

Agents arrested two individuals, one of whom suffered minor injuries, Rodriguez said.

The genders of the people in the SUV weren't available Sunday. Rodriguez also didn't know whether the injured person suffered a gunshot wound.

That individual was taken to a hospital to be treated, then released and taken into custody.

Someone inside the Navigator might have fired at the agent before he used his weapon, though investigators don't know for sure, Rod-riguez said.

Agents found 1,300 pounds of drugs in the SUV, which were reported stolen in Mesa, Rodriguez said.

The agent's name was not released Sunday. He has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of the shooting, which is standard agency practice.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/170933

Here we go again!