Thread: Arpaio-threat suspect identified

Arpaio-threat suspect identified

by JJ Hensley - Mar. 3, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Authorities identified Hugo X. Montaigu as the man cited Saturday on suspicion of disorderly conduct and possession of a weapon near the park where a large protest against Sheriff Joe Arpaio was taking shape.

Montaigu also reportedly had a sign that read "Death to Arpaio equals freedom for America," prompting the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office to investigate the incident as a threat on the sheriff's life.

Veterans Affairs Police officers encountered Montaigu on Saturday morning as he was leaving his car in the facility's parking lot near Seventh Street and Indian School Road. Because the lot was reserved for an event later in the day, officers asked Montaigu to move his car, said Paula Pedene, a spokeswoman for the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center.

Montaigu, 45, was in the process of joining a throng of protestors at Steele Indian School Park that marched through downtown Phoenix Saturday to protest Arpaio's immigration-enforcement tactics.

Montaigu became uncooperative and the VA officers cited him, Pedene said.

After they removed Montaigu's weapon and searched him to ensure he had no other weapons, they released him, she said.

That didn't sit well with sheriff's officials who said Monday that police should not have released Montaigu.

"In our estimation, that guy should have been arrested and booked into jail," said Lisa Allen, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office.

VA police, who are federal agents, have limited authority to detain suspects.

They can detain people who come on VA property and are acting suspicious, Pedene said without specifically referring to Montaigu's case, which sheriff's deputies are still investigating.

If VA police discover a firearm while they have someone detained, they remove the weapon. If the suspicious person continues to act disorderly, police can cite them, Pedene said, but it requires approval from the U.S. Attorneys Office for VA police to make an arrest.

Allen said sheriff's deputies were investigating Montaigu's alleged death threat.

Montaigu could not be reached for comment Monday.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... o0303.html

The laws are upside down, it seems that the illegal criminals are protected and our law enforcement officers, are not . The big question is why?

added to homepage

http://www.alipac.us/article4013.html

Originally Posted by ELE

The laws are upside down, it seems that the illegal criminals are protected and our law enforcement officers, are not .

Shush, we're not supposed to notice.