Thread: Game wardens and Border Patrol run into drug runners

First came the rocks, then came the bullets

Game wardens and Border Patrol run into drug runners on Rio Grande

By LYNN BREZOSKY
STAFF WRITER
June 9, 2011, 9:47PM

BROWNSVILLE — The gunfight between U.S. law enforcement officers and Mexican drug runners Thursday started with rocks thrown at two Texas game wardens and escalated into gunfire, according to authorities.

Officers then fired back.

Texas Parks and Wildlife spokesman Mike Cox said the wardens were treated and released at a local hospital after being hit by "several large jagged rocks" hurled from the other side.

"Our game wardens were in fear of their lives and they fired and the other officers fired as well," he said.

Cox said the gunbattle lasted only a few minutes, describing it as "intense but short-lived."

There were three TPW boats and one Border Patrol boat involved, he said, noting that game wardens work the river as fully commissioned Texas peace officers.

According to the Department of Public Safety, at least three drug runners were wounded in the gunfight.

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said the shootout occurred in the Hidalgo County community of Abram. He said Texas Rangers, the TPW wardens and the U.S. Border Patrol were involved, and that his deputies were among those on the scene "after the fact."

Suspicious activity

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called the incident a "brazen attack" and added, "Cartel-related violence along our border is real and escalating, and the administration cannot continue to deny it when American lives - particularly those of our law enforcement - are directly in harm's way."

DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange said the officers were part of a multi-agency "Texas Ranger Reconnaissance" operation and had attempted to stop a large drug load from coming across the river.

Officers arrived in patrol boats after becoming suspicious about a vehicle on the U.S. bank of the river and by two boats loaded with drugs on the water, Mange said. The officers encountered "heavy gunfire from the Mexico side" while attempting to interdict the boats, she said.

It was unclear what happened to the wounded or whether arrests were made. Mexican authorities were notified of the abandoned boat loads of drugs and were on the scene, the DPS said.

"A multi-agency investigation is currently under way and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the government of Mexico are working closely to determine the complete circumstances of the shooting," said Rosendo Hinojosa, chief patrol agent for the Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley sector.

Teams on duty since 2009

Gov. Rick Perry in September of 2009 announced the establishment of the reconnaissance teams to bolster what he said were inadequate federal resources along the Texas-Mexico border.

The teams, made up of Texas Rangers and Texas National Guard Counterdrug forces, are deployed to high-traffic, high-crime areas to help stem the flow of contraband, according to an agency news release.

Staff writer Gary Martin in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

lbrezosky@express-news.net

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 03882.html

Sources: Incident not a big shootout

June 09, 2011 9:34 PM
THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Information from several sources late Thursday raises questions regarding a report from the Texas Department of Public Safety about a shootout early in the day where U.S. authorities reportedly came under “heavy fire.â€

Border Shootout Under Investigation

Reported by: Polo Sandoval
Last Update: 8:17 am

MISSION - We expect to learn more today about a shootout between drug runners and U.S. authorities neaar Chimney Park south of Mission.

Dozens of Texas state game wardens descended on Chimney Park along with Border Patrol agents and Texas Rangers. They saturated the area after a shootout between game wardens and drug smugglers.

Authorities in Austin have released only basic information, saying a suspicious vehicle was spotted on the U.S. side of the river around 6 Thursday morning. They then saw two cartel drug recovery boats loaded with people and what appeared to be marijuana.

As they approached, that's when gunfire broke out. Gunmen on the Mexican side opened fire on American boats. Game wardens aboard returned fire, injuring three of the smugglers. We're told Mexican authorities were made aware of the incident.

Border Patrol Chief Rosendo Hinojosa released a statement regarding the incident:

"A multi-agency investigation is currently under way and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the government of Mexico are working closely to determine the complete circumstances of the shooting."

US Senator John Cornyn has also released a statement, saying, "Despite the repeated assurances of President Obama and Secretary Napolitano that our border is secure, [this] brazen attack on law enforcement provides further evidence for what Texans already know. Cartel-related violence along our border is real and escalating, and the Administration cannot continue to deny it when American lives - particularly those of our law enforcement - are directly in harm's way."

The law enforcement authorities involved in the shooting have scheduled a news conference for late Friday morning. We'll be there. Watch CHANNEL 5 NEWS at Noon for the very latest, and check back here on krgv.com.

http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Bo ... l-9EQ.cspx

Official Says Gulf Cartel Shot at Game Wardens

Last Update: 1:15 pm
CHANNEL 5 NEWS (KRGV, 2010)

WESLACO - The Texas Rangers are releasing more information about what happened when authorities encountered drug runners in Chimney Park south of Mission.

The smugglers who shot at game wardens Thursday worked for the Gulf Cartel, says Department of Public Safety Director Steve Mcraw.

Mcraw was among several high-level law enforcement officials in Weslaco on Friday to speak about what happened on the river Thursday.

They also showed a video of the scene right after the shootoutshot. The video was shot from a DPS helicopter . Inflatable rafts loaded with marijuana on the Mexican side of the river can be seen.

It was a Ranger reconnaissance team composed of state and federal police who chased an SUV to the river’s edge. The smugglers unloaded the vehicle and paddled into Mexico.

Game wardens and Border Patrol agents responded in three boats and began getting rocks thrown at them. Soon after that, the smugglers opened fire, shooting at authorities at least four times. Game wardens responded, shooting back 300 rounds.

Mcraw addressed that overwhelming show of force, saying even one shot from the bad guys was one too many and that they will defend themselves.

Two game wardens were hit by those rocks. Their injuries were minor. The FBI and Texas Rangers are investigating as they piece all the evidence together.

Sen. John Cornyn has responded to the shooting, saying:

"Despite the repeated assurances of President Obama and Secretary Napolitano that our border is secure, this brazen attack on law enforcement provides further evidence for what Texans already know. Cartel-related violence along our border is real and escalating, and the administration cannot continue to deny it when American lives - particularly those of our law enforcement - are directly in harm's way."

http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Of ... d_DNQ.cspx

McCraw to drug runners: U.S. officers will fire back

By Lynn Brezosky
lbrezosky@express-news.net
Published 02:36 p.m., Friday, June 10, 2011

WESLACO — State officials lauded the quick, heavy, multi-agency gunfire response to bullets coming from drug runners on the Rio Grande early Thursday, saying a single shot against a U.S. law enforcement officer is “one too many.â€

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-6341--0-0.html

DO NOT HOLD BACK GUYS...

Not only is your own safety of the utmost importance but you are also protecting all U S citizens by fighting this violent and aggressive invasion...

In each group of Illegals you catch or turn away could be another one or more persons who would commit violence against American citizens, including our children. (not to mention all the other crime committed)

Thank you for putting your lives on the line to protect us...