Thread: [Pro-illegal immigration] Protest leader jailed on warrants

Protest leader jailed on warrants
Fri, Nov. 16, 2007

By PATRICK McGEE
Star-Telegram staff writer

IRVING -- An anti-deportation rally fizzled Thursday after the lead organizer was arrested for outstanding warrants.

Carlos Quintanilla was arrested on seven outstanding warrants for fines totaling more than $3,000 shortly after holding a news conference in Irving with Spanish-language media. The arrest came several hours before his rally was scheduled to begin. Quintanilla was released about 9:30 p.m.

The rally, which drew fewer than 100 people, would have been Quintanilla's third demonstration against Irving's Criminal Alien Program. The program refers suspected illegal immigrants in the city jail to federal immigration authorities. It has resulted in more than 1,700 deportations since it began in September 2006.

Irving police spokesman David Tull said Quintanilla was warned about the warrants when he applied for a permit to hold the rally. The department routinely performs background checks on people who apply for permits.

Tull said Quintanilla was told that he needed to pay the fines with Farmers Branch, Dallas and Dallas County or risk being arrested the next time he was in Irving. The warrants were issued on suspicion of misdemeanors including a seat-belt violation and trespassing.

"He's had ample opportunity to take care of it," Tull said. "He chose himself not to take care of the situation. ... We did our law enforcement duties and arrested him."

Quintanilla said late Thursday that he should have taken care of his warrants but forgot. He said that Irving police did not warn him about the warrants and that he believes that police arrested him to derail his activism.

"I can guarantee you that there is a conspiratory mood in this city," Quintanilla said. "Now, I am going to be even bolder."

Tony Hinojosa, a member of Quintanilla's group Accion America said it is suspicious that police would arrest Quintanilla the day he was holding a rally. Hinojosa blamed Quintanilla's arrest for the rally's small turnout.

"What went wrong is they cut off the voice of the people when they put him in jail," Hinojosa said. "When the people heard he was in jail, they were afraid to come out. I think that's one of the reasons we had such a poor turnout. ... We'll recuperate, we'll regroup and start all over again."

Thursday's arrest wasn't Quintanilla's first brush with the law.

In 1991, he was convicted with two others in a U.S. District Court in Chicago of defrauding G. Heileman Brewing Co. out of nearly $700,000 between 1983 and 1987, according to a 1991 report in the Chicago Tribune.

Quintanilla was sentenced to six months in a federal prison and five years' probation on racketeering conspiracy and other charges.

He was convicted in the kickback scheme, which duped the brewing company into sponsoring bogus community events or nonexistent organizations through his nonprofit Hispanic community organization Operation Search, the Tribune reported.

Quintanilla said Thursday that he doesn't feel that conviction hurts his credibility because the Irving issue is about immigrant rights.

He added that his arrest in Irving makes him an example, because he can go home to his family while suspected illegal immigrants face deportation.

Staff writer Melissa Vargas contributed to this report.

http://www.star-telegram.com/dallas_new ... 05688.html

They arrest to Carlos Quintanilla the Star Carlos Quintanilla de Accio'n America was stopped yesterday by the police of Irving, to have feels arrest orders pendientes.

IRVING - the police of Irving stopped Thursday to the activist of America Action Carlos Quintanilla, after making a revision of its criminal record after a request that the leader made to outside coordinate a public manifestation of the city council.

In an official notice sent by David Tull, spokesman of the police of Irving detailed itself that Quintanilla had in against seven orders of arrest and a position to handle with an invalid license.

The police said in the official notice that had warned Quintanilla to him to solve the orders before returning to Irving. Between the seven orders they appear to handle without insurance, invasion to other people's property, excess of speed and registry to vehicular won, among others.

Coordinating Abimael Bristle of the boycott of America Action said that several activists and volunteers were reuniting money to cancel the guarantee of 3.014 dollars that fixed the police to him.

To the closing of this Quintanilla edition it remained in the jail of Irving, but the average premises informed Friday that the leader managed to pay the debt and to leave around the 9 p.m. of Thursday.

Translated with Babblefish.
http://www.diariolaestrella.com/128/story/37545.html

A Mexican Al Sharpton?