Thread: AZ: Three more border agents assaulted

http://sun.yumasun.com/artman/publish/a ... _29571.php

Three more border agents assaulted
BY JEFFREY GAUTREAUX, SUN STAFF WRITER
Jan 24, 2007



 One Border Patrol agent was nearly struck with a vehicle and two more nearly drowned within the past 10 days.

Yuma sector spokesman Chris Van Wagenen said these types of incidents are something the Border Patrol expects. He said those who profit from illegal activity are not going to give up control of the border without a fight.

"They're hoping to win through intimidation and violence."

On Monday night, a suspected illegal alien smuggler tried to strike a Yuma sector agent with his vehicle after being stopped near the Andrade port of entry, according to a Border Patrol release.

Three vehicles had been stopped near the Quechan parking lot on suspicion of alien smuggling. When an agent went up to speak to one of the drivers, he sped away. The vehicle smashed through a chainlink fence and drove toward a Border Patrol agent on a mountain bike.

"It was fortunate that no one was injured. The agent had to dive out of the way, but he's safe and now he's back on duty," said Van Wagenen.

Van Wagenen said the vehicle was able to escape back into Mexico. It is unknown how many people may have been inside.

The two other vehicles stopped contained a total of 16 people who were found to be Mexican nationals in the United States illegally. Van Wagenen said it was unknown if there were smugglers within that group, but an investigation is ongoing.

On Saturday, an agent was nearly drowned while attempting to apprehend two illegal aliens near the San Luis port of entry. The two men began fighting with the agent, and all three fell into the All American Canal.

Van Wagenen said the agent believed he was held under water for 15 to 20 seconds until he was able to draw his gun and get another breath."They literally had his life in their hands. The agent said he started to feel a numbness in his body and seriously felt that he was going to die."

Once the agent had his weapon out, he took one of the men into custody while the other floated down the canal. The second man was later taken into custody as well. No shots were fired during the incident.

Van Wagenen said both men are in jail and awaiting a court date. The men were believed to be acting as smuggling guides helping people to cross the border, according to the Border Patrol.

The agent sustained some cracked teeth from getting punched during the fight but is now back at work, Van Wagenen said.

On Jan. 16, an agent was pulled into neck-deep water in the All American Canal after stopping a vehicle pursuit near the Andrade port of entry. The agent was not injured.

The number of illegal aliens crossing the border has gone down, thanks to increased enforcement and the presence of the National Guard. But as the Border Patrol has predicted for some time, the amount of violence has gone up.

The record number of Border Patrol agent assaults for one fiscal year is 119. In 2006-07, there have already been 90 after only about four months, according to Van Wagenen.

"It's a 60 percent increase on last year," he said.

Van Wagenen said the agent believed he was held under water for 15 to 20 seconds until he was able to draw his gun and get another breath."They literally had his life in their hands. The agent said he started to feel a numbness in his body and seriously felt that he was going to die."

This is not setting well with me at all. I am fuming reading this.