Three suspects arrested by Border Patrol agents

By SILVIO J. PANTA

Imperial Valley Press Staff Writer

12:15 a.m. PST, February 19, 2011

SALTON CITY — Three people convicted of sex-related crimes and other offenses face prosecution for immigration violations following their arrests by U.S. Border Patrol agents, according to a statement released Friday.

In addition, Border Patrol agents escaped injury when rocks were thrown at them in a separate incident.

The arrests began Sunday at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Highway 86 north of Westmorland when a routine record check revealed that motorist Rodolfo Villegas, 35, had an active warrant out of Salinas for sexual assault. Villegas, whose city of residence was not given, was arrested and is awaiting extradition.

On Wednesday, Border Patrol agents arrested Ricardo Arellano-Barajas, 42, on suspicion of trying to illegally enter the U.S. about 20 miles west of Calexico.

A record check showed Arellano is a registered sex offender with multiple convictions out of Santa Ana, the news release reported.

That same day Border Patrol agents learned a suspected gang member was among eight undocumented immigrants found 29 miles west of Calexico. Eder Tinoco-Perez, 27, is an aggravated felon with ties to a Los Angeles gang, the news statement read.

Things turned violent for Border Patrol agents on Tuesday when rocks were thrown at them a few miles west of downtown Calexico while they were searching for three people trying to illegally enter the U.S.

Two agents were trying to secure the undocumented immigrants while a third agent spotted two people atop the border fence holding large rocks, the news statement read.

A third Border Patrol agent moved a vehicle around the two other agents for cover when a barrage of rocks struck it, the statement reported.

Two undocumented immigrants were arrested during the incident, but a third immigrant along with the rock throwers went back in Mexico.

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