Thread: Border Patrol agent found dead near Salton Sea

Strange and sad.
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Border Patrol agent found dead near Salton Sea

May 11, 2007 08:53 PM PDT

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the Imperial County Sheriff's Department and the Border Patrol have confirmed that deputies have found a dead Border Patrol K-9 agent near the Salton Sea.

Authorities reported the body discovery just after 5:30 PM Friday evening.

Authorities say they found the agent's body at Highway 111 and Parkside near the All-American Canal in the Imperial County District.

Deputies say they found the person's dog running around in the area, but, then, later discovered the person's vehicle and body.

Deputies believe the person's death was caused by drowning, and they believe the person was on duty.

The Imperial County Sheriff's Department is handling the invesitgation.

If you have any information on this case, you can call the Imperial County Sheriff's Department at 1-800-452-2051.

http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S= ... =menu191_2

Based on the local news reports here in California this situation is beginning to look very suspicious. Ask yourself, who would want to murder a border patrol agent, on duty and with his dog?

It will be interesting to see if this gets publicized and fully investigated in the coming days. I am willing to bet we will hear virtually nothing about it from the media, except perhaps Lou Dobbs.

More information about border patrol agent found floating in canal to be released soon




Denise Goolsby
The Desert Sun
May 12, 2007

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More information regarding the California Border Patrol agent found dead Friday evening, floating in the Coachella Canal by the Salton Sea, will soon be released, Agent Enrique Lozano, a public information officer for the department, said.

The information will be released in about an hour, Lozano said.

A spokesman with the El Centro office said the dead agent was stationed in Indio.

At the time the body was discovered, officials could not say whether the agent's death was an accident.

http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.d ... E/70512001

Wonder if we'll ever know what happened to the poor man?
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Border Patrol Agent Found Dead in CanalImperial County Sheriff's Department Investigating
INDIO, May 12, 2007 (CNS) - A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent was found dead floating in a canal near the city of Niland, east of Salton Sea, authorities announced Saturday.

Richard Goldstein, 37, a five-year veteran of the Border Patrol assigned to the El Centro Sector's Indio Station, was found floating in the Coachella Canal after agents reported him missing around 3 p.m., Border Patrol Agent David Kim told reporters.

Goldstein was reported missing after agents found his vehicle parked and idling along the Coachella Canal, Border Patrol officials said.

"The loss of such a promising young agent, bravely carrying out his duty, has created a great emptiness within our ranks," said Carl L. McClafferty, chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector.

"Our thoughts and prayers are now with his family, as we honor his courage and sacrifice," he said.

Goldstein's death was being investigated by the Imperial County Sheriff's Department, officials said.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?secti ... id=5299382

Border patrol agent identified
Coachella Valley resident's body found in canal


Denise Goolsby
The Desert Sun
May 13, 2007

SALTON SEA - Circumstances surrounding the death of a California Border Patrol agent remained a mystery Saturday.

Agent Richard Goldstein, 37, a Coachella Valley resident, was found floating in the Coachella Canal near Niland on Friday.

He was reported missing after his service vehicle was found idling along the Coachella Canal on Friday, with his K-9 partner sitting outside, according to a report released Saturday by El Centro Border Patrol officials.

Local, state and federal agencies initiated a search and rescue operation, and fellow agents discovered his body a short time later.

As reported Saturday on thedesertsun.com, Goldstein is the first agent from the Riverside County area to be killed since 1996. A five-year veteran of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Goldstein was assigned to the El Centro Sector, serving Riverside and Imperial counties.

Supervisory Border Patrol Agent David Kim said Goldstein was instrumental in stemming the tide of illegal activity, including drug trafficking, in the valley.

"He was very well liked, well-respected by the rank and file agents," as well as by agency administrators, Kim said.

Goldstein is survived by his wife and two children, Kim said. Details about memorial services are expected to be released Monday. The Imperial County Sheriff's Department is investigating, Agent Enrique Lozano said.

http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.d ... 006/news01

05/14/2007

Border agent found dead of apparent drowning in Calif.
Officer Down: Agent Richard Goldstein - [Indio, California]

ODMP

Biographical Info

Age: 37

Additional Info: Agent Richard Goldstein was a five-year veteran of the Border Patrol and was assigned to the El Centro Sector's Indio Station. He is survived by his wife, two stepsons, parents, and a granddaughter born the night before his death.

Cause of Death: Drowned

Incident Details: Agent Richard Goldstein drowned in the Coachella canal near Niland, California, east of the Salton Sea.

After he went missing, Agent Goldstein’s canine partner was found sitting alongside his vehicle, which was parked and idling near the canal. The Customs and Border Protection and California Highway Patrol Air divisions assisted several Border Patrol Agents in the search for the missing agent. A short time later, it was discovered he had drowned a few miles from his vehicle.

Agent Goldstein’s K-9 partner, Carlo, was wet, and markings in the area indicate the dog had been in the water and struggled to get out of the canal. Early reports indicate he entered the canal in order to rescue his partner.



End of Watch: May 11, 2007










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Border agent found dead of apparent drowning in Calif.

By SHARON McNARY
The Press-Enterprise

The death of a Border Patrol agent in the Coachella Canal remains under investigation but was likely an accidental drowning, Border Patrol spokesman David Kim said Sunday.

The body of Agent Richard Goldstein, 37, was found Friday floating in the canal near Niland, east of the Salton Sea and about 40 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, said Kim, a supervisory agent in the El Centro Sector of the Border Patrol.

"At this point it doesn't appear initially that there's anything other than an accident that occurred," Kim said, describing Goldstein as a hero.

"He was on the front lines of securing the American border."

Border Patrol agents monitor the canal, which runs north to south, because smugglers of drugs and people often drive on its narrow banks to bypass an immigration checkpoint on Highway 111, several miles north of Niland, Kim said.

Authorities began a search for Goldstein soon after they realized he was away from his K-9 patrol vehicle.

They found his dog near the idling vehicle, and Goldstein in the canal water.

A search by California Highway Patrol and Border Patrol helicopters did not locate other vehicles that might have been involved in the incident, Kim said.

Although he did not have statistics available, Kim said agents face an increasing amount of violence from smugglers, "mostly assaults, whether they are immigrants or drug smugglers, throwing rocks, sticks, even shooting paint balls."

Last week a smuggler fired about 20 paint-ball rounds at agents monitoring the New River near Calexico, Kim said.

Services for Goldstein had not been scheduled, said Agent Enrique Lozano, a spokesman for the Border Patrol's El Centro Sector.

Goldstein lived in the Coachella Valley and is survived by his wife and two children.

http://www.policeone.com/news/1245085/

They found his dog near the idling vehicle, and Goldstein in the canal water.

Am I the only one who thinks it's odd that a BP agent on duty gets out of his truck, leaving it running, and takes a dip in the canal?

Originally Posted by had_enuf

They found his dog near the idling vehicle, and Goldstein in the canal water.

Am I the only one who thinks it's odd that a BP agent on duty gets out of his truck, leaving it running, and takes a dip in the canal?

Not at all had, I'm suspicious too.

I heard on the news that this is now being investigated as a homocide.