Arizona Arson
Smugglers Suspected in Vehicle Fires

American Patrol Report -- July 3


Top: Sheriff inspects ATV
Bottom: Severe damage to ATV

A preliminary investigation into suspicious fires on American Border Patrol's Arizona border ranch points to arson. Two ABP ATVs caught fire, one Monday and one Tuesday only about ninety seconds after each had been started. The quads had been parked alongside one another on Sunday evening. Fortunately the fires did not have a chance to ignite the fuel tanks.

Yesterday Cochise County Sheriffs inspected the vehicles and agreed that the fires were suspicious. After an inspection of one of the vehicles by the Yamaha dealer in Sierra Vista, the service manager said he had never seen a fire in a Kodiak – ever – much less two within 24 hours.

The suspected arson occurred after a series of events that raised the level of conflict between ABP and drug smugglers. On June 6 ABP's Mike Christie had an encounter with a smuggler that almost ended in gunplay: http://www.americanpatrol.com/08-FEATUR ... ature.html

The next day smugglers offered ABP money to allow them to cross its ranch. They were turned down. The smugglers said they were aware of what ABP did on the border.

On June 25 the Border Patrol installed vehicle barriers where the Christie smuggler encounter happened.

All the while ABP's Operation Virtual Vigilance has been helping stop smugglers in the San Pedro River corridor.

"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Mexican drug smugglers sabotaged these vehicles to send ABP a message and that is – get out," said Glenn Spencer, head of ABP. "Well my message to them is; we are not going anywhere."

Spencer said ABP will be beefing up its security systems and appealed to the public for help. Tax-deductible donations may be made here: http://www.americanborderpatrol.com/donations.html