Thread: AGENT KILLED BY FLEEING VEHICLE!!!

I'll send it it off to my media contacts.

Border Patrol agent dies, struck by fleeing vehicle in SoCal

The Associated Press

YUMA, Ariz.

January 19, 2008

A Border Patrol agent trying to stop a vehicle that had illegally entered the U.S. was struck and killed Saturday in southeastern California, agency officials said.

The agent was killed about 20 miles west of Yuma in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, a spot along the border that is popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts and frequently used by smugglers.

The agent attempted to impede the vehicle's progress before he was hit, but the Border Patrol did not immediately have more information, said agent Eric Anderson, a spokesman for the agency's Yuma sector.

The name of the agent killed was not immediately released because his family had not been notified.

Witnesses told the Yuma Sun newspaper that agents were chasing a Hummer and a Ford pickup on Interstate 8 when the vehicles turned into the dunes and fled toward Mexico. The agent was trying to place spike strips in their path and was struck by the Hummer, they said.

The Imperial Sand Dunes are the largest dunes in California, extending north of the border for 40 miles and averaging five miles wide.

Published: Saturday, January 19, 2008 14:34 PST

http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/Bo ... 276C.shtml

Date: 1/19/2008 2:28:45 PM
Subject: B P Agent Killed Today near Yuma 1-19-08

Agent reported hit, killed by fleeing vehicle in dunes
BY SARAH REYNOLDS, SUN STAFF WRITER
January 19, 2008 - 10:46AM

A U.S. Border Patrol agent was killed Saturday morning when he was
struck by a vehicle as it fled law enforcement officers in the
Imperial Sand Dunes.

The agent, who was stationed in the Yuma sector, was hit at about
9:30 a.m. near Gray's Well Road south of Interstate 8, according to
Border Patrol representatives. The agent was laying spike strips
across the road in an attempt to stop a Hummer vehicle that was
fleeing pursuit.

Border Patrol officials believe the Hummer was driven by smugglers
from Mexico.

Paramedics attempted to revive the agent at the scene but could not
save him. Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jeremy Schappell, spokesman
for the Yuma sector, said the driver escaped back to Mexico.

"Right now our Mexican liaison unit has contact with the Mexican
authorities ... try and track these individuals down," Schappell
said.

No apprehensions have been made at this time. Schappell said they did
not know whether the vehicle was carrying drugs or human cargo.

The Hummer and a Black Ford F-150 pickup truck were being pursued by
law enforcement officers on I-8 when they turned into the dunes and
fled toward Mexico, according to witnesses in the dunes.

The incident occurred near a popular duning campground.

"It was at the entrance to the Buttercup Recreation Area, where the
duners usually park," Schappell said.

He added that it is not unusual for smugglers to go through these
recreational spots.

"It actually happens quite frequently out here. What they try to do
is, they hope to blend in with the usual dune traffic to increase
their chances of going undetected," Schappell said.

The agent's name has not been released at this time, pending
notification of next of kin.

This is the first time in more than four years the Yuma sector has
lost an agent. Agent Jim Epling drowned in December 2003 in the
Colorado River while in pursuit of four illegal immigrants.

An El Centro sector agent assigned to the Indio station, Richard
Goldstein, died in May 2007. He drowned in a canal near the city of
Niland, east of the Salton Sea and about 60 miles southeast of Indio.

"It's not easy. No law enforcement agency wants to lose one of their
own. What we're focusing on now is making sure the agents at the
scene are taken care of, mentally. Our primary focus is on the
family, helping them cope and deal with their loss," Schappell said.


http://www.yumasun.com/news/agent_39038 ... dunes.html

CLICK ON THE LINK and go read the comments. the very first comment is from a girl who says the agent was her uncle

THIS IS ON GEORGE BUSH'S HANDS

"Right now our Mexican liaison unit has contact with the Mexican
authorities ... try and track these individuals down," Schappell
said.

No apprehensions have been made at this time. Schappell said they did
not know whether the vehicle was carrying drugs or human cargo.

Mexico does not extradite in all cases involving the death pneality nor in most cases where the suspect could face life in prison.

I doubt much cooperation from the Mexican government in this tragedy.

BUILD THE FENCE--PROTECT OUR BORDER AGENTS.

4151 S. Avenue A
Yuma, AZ 85365
Phone: (92 341-2800
Fax: (92 344-1184

History
Yuma Station was constructed in December of 1979. The station is located at 4030 South Avenue A, approximately six miles south of the old Sector Headquarters. In 1989, seven modular units were obtained and moved to the Yuma Station to allow for additional office space and a training area.

Area of Responsibility
The station has 48 miles of Sonora land border, 10.75 miles of Baja California land border, and 15.25 miles of Baja California river border, for a total of 74 miles.

Posted: January 19, 2008
6:30 p.m. Eastern



A U.S. Border Patrol agent is dead in California after being struck by one of two vehicles fleeing toward the U.S.-Mexico border during a pursuit by law enforcement today.

The officer, whose name has not yet been released, was laying spike strips across the road in the Imperial Sand Dunes recreation in the southeast portion of the state at about 9:30 a.m. when he was hit by a Hummer believed to have been driven by smugglers.

The Hummer and a Black Ford F-150 pickup truck escaped into Mexico, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jeremy Schappell told the Yuma Sun. It is unknown whether the vehicles were carrying drugs or human contraband.

"Right now our Mexican liaison unit has contact with the Mexican authorities ... try and track these individuals down," Schappell said.

Witnesses said the two vehicles were being pursued on I-8 between Calexico, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., when the drivers left the interstate and turned into the dunes, fleeing toward the nearby border.

"It was at the entrance to the Buttercup Recreation Area, where the duners usually park," Schappell said.

Because of the proximity of interstate and the dune recreational area to the border, the area is popular with smugglers, he said.

"It actually happens quite frequently out here. What they try to do is, they hope to blend in with the usual dune traffic to increase their chances of going undetected," Schappell said.

Today's death is the first for an agent in the Yuma sector in over four years, Schappell said.

"It's not easy. No law enforcement agency wants to lose one of their own. What we're focusing on now is making sure the agents at the scene are taken care of, mentally. Our primary focus is on the family, helping them cope and deal with their loss."

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59775

The Hummer and a Black Ford F-150 pickup truck escaped into Mexico, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jeremy Schappell told the Yuma Sun. It is unknown whether the vehicles were carrying drugs or human contraband.

"Right now our Mexican liaison unit has contact with the Mexican authorities ... try and track these individuals down," Schappell said.

Witnesses said the two vehicles were being pursued on I-8 between Calexico, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., when the drivers left the interstate and turned into the dunes, fleeing toward the nearby border.

There will be no cooperation from Mexico. The murders probably have ties to the Mexican police or military. Or Mexican officials are bought off and protect the cartel members.

Rest in peace American hero.

CNN online news last updated 8:01 p.m. EST January 19, 2008 has NOT reported the murder of the border agent.

Fox News is reporting the following:

FOXNEWS.COM HOME > U.S.

Border Agent Killed by Fleeing Vehicle in California
Saturday, January 19, 2008

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YUMA, Ariz. — A Border Patrol agent trying to stop a vehicle that had illegally entered the U.S. was struck and killed Saturday in southeastern California, agency officials said.

The agent was killed about 20 miles west of Yuma in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, a spot along the border that is popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts and frequently used by smugglers.

The agent attempted to impede the vehicle's progress before he was hit, but the Border Patrol did not immediately have more information, said agent Eric Anderson, a spokesman for the agency's Yuma sector.

The name of the agent killed was not immediately released because his family had not been notified.

Witnesses told the Yuma Sun newspaper that agents were chasing a Hummer and a Ford pickup on Interstate 8 when the vehicles turned into the dunes and fled toward Mexico. The agent was trying to place spike strips in their path and was struck by the Hummer, they said.

The Imperial Sand Dunes are the largest dunes in California, extending north of the border for 40 miles and averaging five miles wide.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,324107,00.html


BUILD THE FENCE!