Thread: 28 arrested in Mesa sweep

28 arrested in Mesa sweep
Sheriff's operation closely monitored
26 commentsby Senta Scarborough, JJ Hensley and Dennis Wagner - Jun. 27, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
More than 230 law officers swarmed the streets of Mesa on Thursday, with Maricopa County sheriff's deputies looking for criminals and undocumented immigrants while local police monitored the deputies.

Also observing the action were officials from the U.S. Justice Department and Arizona Attorney General's Office along with dozens of activists with video cameras.

Some routine traffic stops drew a half-dozen law-enforcement vehicles along with the activists and media crews.
As of 9 p.m., there had been 28 arrests and no major incidents involving the anti-immigration patrols or protesters. Thirteen of those taken into custody are suspected of being in the country illegally. The sheriff's office also took nine suspected illegal immigrants from a Mesa drophouse while assisting federal officials, the sheriff's office said.

But the operation represents another strange chapter in Sheriff Joe Arpaio's campaign to round up illegal immigrants using saturation patrols - a tactic that has left police counterparts and some citizens on edge.

The operation began just before 2 p.m. Thursday. A pair of undercover detectives with the sheriff's human-smuggling unit set out in an unmarked car and, within 10 minutes, detained and cited a motorist for running a stop sign.

Moments later, the detectives pulled over faded blue Ford pickup and cited a driver for expired registration. "What am I supposed to do, stay home?" asked the frustrated motorist, who only gave his name as Bobby. "I've got nothing to hide."

Even before Sheriff Joe Arpaio's sweep began, it had drawn attention from Washington, D.C., to the state Capitol, in part because critics claim deputies in the past have targeted Latino drivers, an allegation the sheriff denies.

Arpaio said he had 100 deputies in Thursday's task force. Mesa police said 131 officers were patrolling on special assignment.

Mesa Police Chief George Gascón, who has bickered with Arpaio over the dragnets, said said the Justice Department's Community Relations Service, which serves as peacemaker in community racial conflicts, contacted him after Arpaio announced the planned raid.

"I think they (DOJ officials) are to have an overall look at the condition of the event (and) monitor how we handle the crowds,"Gascón said.

Attorney General Terry Goddard sent several of his sworn officers to support Mesa police.

Meanwhile, Elias Bermudez, a co-founder of Immigrants Without Borders, said his group recruited about 20 legal Hispanics to cruise the streets as potential targets. And Salvador Reza, a leader with the Somos America, said his coalition sent about 40 people onto the streets with video cameras.

In April, Arpaio announced he would bring the controversial detail to Mesa at the request of several East Valley lawmakers. Earlier sheriff's sweeps in Guadalupe and Phoenix triggered allegations of racial profiling and attracted large anti-Arpaio crowds.

Gascón and other public officials have criticized the sweeps as a poor use of law- enforcement resources. The chief recently complained that Arpaio failed to give him advance notice of Thursday's campaign.

In a Thursday interview on KTAR talk radio, Arpaio described that complaint as "garbage," and said he was not worried about demonstrators. "I've got the police that doesn't want me there. It's not just protesters. But, you know, we're going full force. . . . They don't want me to pick up illegals."

At a news conference in downtown Phoenix later, Arpaio vowed to conduct surprise raids in the future, saying, "I've got a message for the chief (Gascón). Next time we come in, you can just spot our patrol cars."

To reduce the chance of a civil disturbance, Mesa police videotaped protest groups and employed community members and clergy as neutral observers. They also established free-speech zones on opposite sides of the street.

Police and sheriff's patrol units were conspicuous in the heart of Mesa's barrio. At Mi Linda Mexico, a shop across the street from a mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe, clerk Erica Estrada said business has been down for weeks because immigrants are afraid to leave their homes.

Nearby, 17-year-old Marcos Mendez Mora calmly pushed a paleta cart full of ice cream along the sidewalk. Mora, who acknowledged being undocumented, said in Spanish he had no idea that one of the sheriff's redadas, or nets, was occurring. He briskly pushed the cart away but stopped when two children flagged him down for treats.

Down the road, Craig Johnson, 40, of Mesa, saw some sheriff's deputies at a gas station and thanked them for coming to town. "I hope they stay here," he said. "The City Council and the police chief don't want to do anything about it."

At the police command post just off Mesa Drive, a crowd of immigrant-rights advocates swelled to more than 100. They prayed, chanted and waved signs reading, "One World Unbordered" and "Arpaio Go Home."

Attorney Antonio Bustamante, of Phoenix, a protester, said Arpaio "is perpetuating some of the grossest injustice this nation has witnessed since the 1960s and the Jim Crow South."

Only a handful showed up on the opposite side of the street. Richard Ingebretsen, 65, a member of the American Freedom Riders immigration-control group, said he supports the roundup.

"They aren't citizens of this country," he added. "The color of their skin and where they are from doesn't bother me. Just don't break the law."

Late in the afternoon, deputies stopped a truck hauling landscaping equipment in east Mesa. After determining that the driver had a Mexican driver's license, they conducted immigration screening.

An 18-year-old passenger ended up in handcuffs after admitting he had no documentation. The driver refused to answer questions about his immigration status, which is within his rights, detectives said. He was released with a citation for expired registration.

The list of onlookers included Mesa native Dan Saban, Arpaio's opponent in the upcoming election. After watching deputies in action, Saban said, "It is very disturbing to me to see the sheriff utilizing resources on a political stunt to further his own ego. He is consumed with immigration because he knows it is an emotional topic," Saban said.


Reporters Carol Sowers, Robert Anglen, Michael Kiefer, Brian Duggan, Daniel Gonzalez, Samantha Hauser and Astrid Galvan contributed to this article








http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... p0627.html

Become pro-active, and don't mince words; (it doesn't pay to be nice, they don't hear you)

Let them know how you feel about Gascon's interference:

mayor.smith@cityofmesa.org; councilmember.richins@cityofmesa.org; councilmember.finter@cityofmesa.org; councilmember.kavanaugh@cityofmesa.org; councilmember.jones@cityofmesa.org; councilmember.higgins@cityofmesa.org; councilmember.somers@cityofmesa.org; debra.dollar@cityofmesa.org; jack.friedline@cityofmesa.org; Karolyn.Kent@cityofmesa.org; bryan.raines@cityofmesa.org; clerk.info@cityofmesa.org; denise.traves@cityofmesa.org

Mayor Scott Smith
Councilmember Dave Richins - District 1
Councilmember Alex Finter - District 2
Councilmember Dennis Kavanaugh - District 3
Vice Mayor Kyle Jones - District 4
Councilmember Dina Higgins - District 5
Councilmember Scott Somers - District 6
City Manager Christopher Brady
Assistant City Manager Debra Dollar
Deputy City Manager Jack Friedline
Deputy City Manager Kari Kent
Deputy City Manager Bryan Raines
Linda Crocker, City Clerk
Denise Traves, Community Partnership Coordinator

Dear Mayor, City Council, City Manager, Deputy City Managers, City Clerks, and Community Coordinator,

A very concerned citizen

These "citizens" (probably 1/3 of them actually illegals) make me sick. They are so pro-illegal alien it is disgusting. If you're so pro-illegal alien, pack up and move south of the border. The Mesa police chief should be canned.

Ostrich

Law Enforcement being bady sitted by the Big Tuff AG . People have lost their minds in this country .
Still got 28 Illegals even with the Electric Sign pointing and flashing , saying "Joe's Here Joe's Here".
Am i the only one that see's our Country becoming a Big Joke with gutless over paid officals full of Crapola ? IMO the Camber of Commerce should be Jailed

Gascón and other public officials have criticized the sweeps as a poor use of law- enforcement resources. The chief recently complained that Arpaio failed to give him advance notice of Thursday's campaign.

In a Thursday interview on KTAR talk radio, Arpaio described that complaint as "garbage," and said he was not worried about demonstrators. "I've got the police that doesn't want me there. It's not just protesters. But, you know, we're going full force. . . . They don't want me to pick up illegals."

At a news conference in downtown Phoenix later, Arpaio vowed to conduct surprise raids in the future, saying, "I've got a message for the chief (Gascón). Next time we come in, you can just spot our patrol cars."

I like Arpaio's determination. If the liberal's put 1/2 as much energy into love of country as the sheriff we would not be having all these problems.

Every time the stupid liberals get in the way when Americans are trying to enforce laws, defend our borders, and our sovereignty they make total idiots of themselves and loose the respect of more Americans.

So, let the liberals keep talking and watch them sink (in)their own shi*

if these people are fearful, they have something to hide, and they know they have broken the laws.
If you dont have nothing to hide, then you should not be afraid.
These people come here illegally, they know dam well, they are here illegally, and they know they have broken the laws of the USA.
I think, they make excuses for themselves and we are suppose to believe the bull that comes out of there mouth?