Thread: El Paso hospital on lockdown for man shot in Mexico

June 6, 2008, 8:09PM
El Paso hospital on lockdown for man shot in Mexico


Associated Press


EL PASO, Texas — Authorities say an El Paso hospital is under its second security lockdown this year while it treats a patient injured in a shootout in violence-plagued Mexico.

El Paso County sheriff's Deputy Jesus Tovar says an unidentified person was being treated Friday for gunshot wounds.

The incident took place in Casas Grandes, Mexico, about 140 miles from the border. Tovar says authorities believe it involved powerful and violent Mexican drug cartels.

Tovar says access points to Thomason Hospital have been limited and other security measures are being taken.

In January, the hospital was put on lockdown after admitting a police official wounded in an ambush in Ciudad Juarez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso.
Why are we taking care of an obvious illegal on our dollar ?

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 23705.html

The incident took place in Casas Grandes, Mexico, about 140 miles from the border.

Why wasn't he taken to a hospital in Mexico?

Thomason on lockdown, unidentified gunshot victim taken to hospital
By Darren Meritz / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/06/2008 05:38:22 PM MDT


An unidentified patient was taken to Thomason Hospital Friday suffering from multiple gunshots, officials at the hospital said.
A hospital spokesman said the patient was transported via EMS ambulance to Thomason from the Bridge of the Americas and arrived at the hospital's Level I Trauma Center at approximately 3:35 p.m. Friday to receive emergency treatment.

The patient was flown to Juarez from another Mexican community after suffering multiple gunshot wounds, hospital officials confirmed.

Thomason officials placed the hospital on lockdown requiring all visitors to pass through a metal detector.

Officials at Thomason are awaiting word from the El Paso County Sheriff's office about whether further security measures are necessary.

In February, a high-ranking police official from Juarez received treatment at Thomason Hospital after receiving several gunshot wounds.

Fears of a gang-style shooting at Thomason prompted a lock down at the hospital. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office maintained around the clock security surveillance for several weeks.

Officials have not disclosed the nature of the officers' injuries or whether sheriff's officials will maintain a heavy security presence.




http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_9505205

Wounded Mexican officer at Thomason
By Darren Meritz / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/07/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

At least one police officer wounded by gunfire in Casas Grandes, Mexico, was admitted to Thomason Hospital Friday afternoon, prompting officials to place the hospital on lockdown and bulk up security for the second time this year.
Casas Grandes police officials confirmed that the police chief and his assistant were both wounded by gunfire Thursday in neighboring Nuevo Casas Grandes, about 150 miles southwest of El Paso in Chihuahua state.

Juan Castruita, director of the Casas Grandes Department of Public Safety, and Lorenzo de la Torre, assistant director of public safety, were airlifted Friday to Juárez before at least one of them was taken to Thomason about 3:35 p.m., law enforcement officials confirmed.

Whether both men were admitted was not made clear.

"We're trying to confirm if there's a second one that was brought," El Paso County Sheriff's Office spokes man Jesse Tovar said.

A heavy security presence was not visible from outside Thomason on Friday, but Tovar said that the Sheriff's Office had taken charge of all security at the hospital. All visitors entering the hospital will be required to pass through metal detectors until further notice.

"The last thing we need is pandemonium," Tovar said. "We'd rather establish control now with reasonable measures than play catch-up later."

Tovar would not reveal the number of deputies or their locations on assignment at Thomason. He said the Mexican officers' injuries are thought to be related to an ongoing



turf battle between drug cartels in Mexico.
Margaret Althoff-Olivas, spokeswoman for Thomason, said the hospital admitted the patient after an airlift to Juárez. Mexican paramedics took the victim to the Bridge of the Americas before El Paso first-responders determined that the victim required the attention of a Level 1 Trauma Center. Thomason Hospital is the only Level 1 Trauma Center within 280 miles.

"As mandated by federal law of all U.S. hospitals, Thomason's medical personnel began immediate treatment upon the patient's arrival," Althoff-Olivas said. "The law É requires hospitals to stabilize any patient who presents to their facility in an emergent condition, regardless of the patient's ability to pay or national origin."

The victim reportedly suffered multiple gunshot wounds, but Althoff-Olivas did not disclose the patient's status, biographical details or any other information. Tovar said he did not know whether the victim was a U.S. citizen.

Denica Lopez of the Casas Grandes Municipal Police confirmed that the two policemen were taken to Juá rez. Residents of Casas Grandes also reported hearing sirens and gunshots overnight.

In January, Thomason Hospital was placed on lockdown after admitting Cmdr. Fernando Lozano Sandoval of the Chihuahua State Investigations Agency. Lozano Sandoval was the victim of an apparent assassination attempt in an ambush that occurred in Juárez.

Darren Meritz may be reached at dmeritz@elpasotimes.com; 546-6127. Times reporter Aileen Flores contributed to this story.







http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_9508220

While the hospital is in lock down, how many Americans are being denied care and possibly even die?

He was FLOWN from his community in Mexico to Juarez? Then a US ambulance took him to EL Paso? Why the hell didn't they fly him to mexico city? Enough is enough! What happens in mexico stays in mexico, especially to their citizens!

Is he going to pay for his bill, or do WE have to pay for it again?

We need to fax or email these articles to our Senators and Reps. They live in a vacuum. Keep it in front of their eyes. Send them to Obama and McCain first.

Mexico Violence Brings Wounded Man To Thomason Hospital
Thomason Hospital was on lockdown Friday night after a patient arrived with ties to the violence in Mexico.

Administrators said they were on heightened alert and have asked the El Paso County Sheriff's Office to assist in security.

Outside the hospital, it's evident with sheriff's deputies on the campus, security is tighter.

Inside we're told all visitors must pass though screening, including metal detectors.

Hospital officials said the unidentified man was brought to Thomason with multiple gunshot wounds.

"Apparently the patient had been flown to Juarez from another Mexican community and then was taken to the Bridge of the Americas," said Margaret Althoff-Olivas, hospital director of communications.

Two women claiming to be the wife and sister of the victim said the victim is a sub-director at the Casas Grandes Police Department, just outside of Juarez.

But security at the hospital would not tell them much more than they told KFOX.

El Paso County sheriff's spokesman, Jesse Tovar, said, "I can't confirm or release exactly who he was, what was his role, what he did, what was he part of all. I can say is we're taking necessary measures for the security of the hospital staff patients and visitors."

For fear of death or further violence, the family declined to speak on camera, but they said the victim called Thursday at 8 p.m. telling them he had been shot and would be taken to El Paso in the morning for treatment where security was heightened.

"Unfortunately for our patients and visitors and staff we have had to put the hospital on lockdown." said Althoff-Olivas

Visitors to Thomason Hospital said they were either turned away or asked to go through a metal detector. Either way they said they were upset and this situation should be handled across the border.

"They need to be treated in Mexico actually. Honestly we pay tax dollars for this hospital, and they need to be treated over there, " said El Paso resident Kathy Green.

The hospital will remain on lockdown until further notice.

The Sheriff's Office won't say how many or where they will staff deputies.

"We have sufficient security in place to respond to any necessity the hospital may need, " said Tovar.

At this time the hospital will not release the man's name, age or information about his wounds or care.

http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/16533504/detail.html

Another BILL that the AMERICANS WILL HAVE to PAY.
But, remember we are RACIEST because we dont want ILLEGALS here.

Mcshame will see to it that HE GRANTS AMESTY to over 20 MILLION ILLEGALS. So, then we will have to pay for these people while they collect welfare and all the freebies they can get and that the government will FREELY GIVE to them NO MATTER what, all they have to say, me no money.

I hope the American citizens in that hospital ask what the heck is going on and they call the senators and congress persons and say DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SECURITY OF THIS BORDER. It's spilling over here and we don't need to be going into trauma in our own hospitals.