Thread: Status uncertain for suspect in Agent`s death

Status uncertain for suspect in agent's death
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 07/03/2008 04:16:17 AM MDT


The U.S. agencies in charge of investigating the death of a Border Patrol agent from El Paso would not comment Wednesday on the status of a possible U.S. extradition proceeding or charges against a Mexican suspect in the case.
The suspect, Jesus Navarro Montes, was in the custody of Mexican authorities in Mexicali, but a judge there freed him two weeks ago because there were no charges or extradition proceedings pending against him related to Senior Border Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar Jr.'s death.

"We cannot comment on this because it is an ongoing investigation," said Debra Hartman, spokeswoman for the U.S. AttorneyÕs Office in San Diego.

U.S. authorities said Navarro is suspected of running over Aguilar with a Hummer on Jan. 19 near Yuma, Ariz., while Aguilar was seeking to stop the vehicle that allegedly crossed the border illegally.

The FBI in San Diego - the lead U.S. law enforcement agency in the case - also would not say whether its investigation was finished.

FBI Special Agent Darrell Foxworth, spokesman for the law enforcement agency in San Diego, said he could not comment on a pending investigation.

Authorities have not disclosed if a federal indictment was issued against Navarro. Sometimes such an indictment is sealed until a defendant is arrested on the charge.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff condemned Navarro's release.

Mexican officials said last week the judge who set Navarro free could not hold him longer without an extradition

request or other charge against him.
Former DEA official Phil Jordan said extradition proceedings are complex and sometimes require time to assemble properly.

Luis Aguilar Sr., the deceased agent's father in El Paso, said he remains in the dark about his sonÕs case. "None of them (authorities) have told me anything about how the investigation is going or anything else," Aguilar said.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com;

546-6140.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_9774255

Looks like our Border Patrol Agents now deserve to be honored as "Fallen Heroes" together with our Iraq war veterans at the end of newscasts!