Thread: Speeding car draws fire at border checkpoint

Speeding car draws fire at border checkpoint

By Debbi Baker
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
8:18 a.m. July 21, 2009

EAST COUNTY — At least one Border Patrol agent shot at a speeding car at a checkpoint on eastbound Interstate 8 Monday night, and the driver was later arrested after a crash.

Agents from the Campo area spotted the suspicious vehicle about 9:45 p.m. and tried to pull it over, but it sped off, Border Patrol spokesman Richard Smith said.

Spike strips were deployed at the checkpoint as the vehicle approached at high speed, Smith said. The driver swerved to avoid the strips and headed toward the agents, the spokesman said.

At least one of them opened fire on the vehicle, which continued speeding eastbound. It is not clear if the car was hit.

A short time later, the driver lost control of the car and it rolled over near the In-Ko-Pah Park Road exit east of Jacumba.

Eight people were in the vehicle, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler said. Four of them were taken to a hospital by ambulance and four refused treatment, Schuler said. None appeared to have injuries from bullets, he said.

Firefighters were called to the Boulevard station about midnight to attend to one person who was in the car who complained of pain, Schuler said.

The driver was taken into custody and could face charges of smuggling and assault on a federal agent, Smith said.

The driver's identity has not been released.

After the shooting, eastbound lanes of Interstate 8 were shut down at the checkpoint and drivers were detoured through the nearby brake-check area, said Ray Scheidnes, a California Highway Patrol officer.

All lanes were reopened about 5:45 a.m., he said.

Debbi Baker: (619) 293-1710;

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... hoot08186/

Speeding car draws fire at border checkpoint

By Debbi Baker
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
8:18 a.m. July 21, 2009

EAST COUNTY — At least one Border Patrol agent shot at a speeding car at a checkpoint on eastbound Interstate 8 Monday night, and the driver was later arrested after a crash.

Agents from the Campo area spotted the suspicious vehicle about 9:45 p.m. and tried to pull it over, but it sped off, Border Patrol spokesman Richard Smith said.

Spike strips were deployed at the checkpoint as the vehicle approached at high speed, Smith said. The driver swerved to avoid the strips and headed toward the agents, the spokesman said.

At least one of them opened fire on the vehicle, which continued speeding eastbound. It is not clear if the car was hit.

A short time later, the driver lost control of the car and it rolled over near the In-Ko-Pah Park Road exit east of Jacumba.

Eight people were in the vehicle, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler said. Four of them were taken to a hospital by ambulance and four refused treatment, Schuler said. None appeared to have injuries from bullets, he said.

Firefighters were called to the Boulevard station about midnight to attend to one person who was in the car who complained of pain, Schuler said.

The driver was taken into custody and could face charges of smuggling and assault on a federal agent, Smith said.

The driver's identity has not been released.

After the shooting, eastbound lanes of Interstate 8 were shut down at the checkpoint and drivers were detoured through the nearby brake-check area, said Ray Scheidnes, a California Highway Patrol officer.

All lanes were reopened about 5:45 a.m., he said.

Debbi Baker: (619) 293-1710;

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... hoot08186/

Illegal Immigrant Vehicle Speeds Through Checkpoint and Crashes

Last Update: 7/21 10:07 am

SAN DIEGO - At least three people were injured when a vehicle carrying nine illegal immigrants blew through an East County checkpoint and eventually crashed after a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot at the driver.

The incident began around 9:45 p.m. Monday when agents from the Campo area attempted to pull over a vehicle they suspected could be carrying illegal immigrants or drugs, U.S. Border Patrol agent Julius Alatorre said.

The driver sped off and agents radioed ahead for assistance from agents at an eastbound Interstate 8 checkpoint in the Jacumba area, according to Alatorre, who said the checkpoint agents set up a spike strip to deflate the vehicle's tires when it passed through.

As the vehicle approached the checkpoint, it suddenly veered toward agents and one of the agents opened fire, Alatorre said, adding that no one was injured and the vehicle continued on. An earlier police report incorrectly stated the agents were fired on.

A few minutes later, the vehicle crashed on I-8 at In-Ko-Pah-Park Road. Three people were taken to the hospital, according to a Cal Fire dispatcher. A fourth person was tended to later in the evening after complaining of pain while in custody at the Border Patrol station in Boulevard, she said.

Alatorre said no agents were seriously hurt.

All nine people who were inside the suspect vehicle during the incident are Mexican nationals, according to Alatorre.

The driver, whose name and age were not immediately released, faces charges of smuggling and assault of a federal agent, he said.

www.sandiego6.com

Illegal Immigrant Vehicle Speeds Through Checkpoint and Crashes

Last Update: 7/21 10:07 am

SAN DIEGO - At least three people were injured when a vehicle carrying nine illegal immigrants blew through an East County checkpoint and eventually crashed after a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot at the driver.

The incident began around 9:45 p.m. Monday when agents from the Campo area attempted to pull over a vehicle they suspected could be carrying illegal immigrants or drugs, U.S. Border Patrol agent Julius Alatorre said.

The driver sped off and agents radioed ahead for assistance from agents at an eastbound Interstate 8 checkpoint in the Jacumba area, according to Alatorre, who said the checkpoint agents set up a spike strip to deflate the vehicle's tires when it passed through.

As the vehicle approached the checkpoint, it suddenly veered toward agents and one of the agents opened fire, Alatorre said, adding that no one was injured and the vehicle continued on. An earlier police report incorrectly stated the agents were fired on.

A few minutes later, the vehicle crashed on I-8 at In-Ko-Pah-Park Road. Three people were taken to the hospital, according to a Cal Fire dispatcher. A fourth person was tended to later in the evening after complaining of pain while in custody at the Border Patrol station in Boulevard, she said.

Alatorre said no agents were seriously hurt.

All nine people who were inside the suspect vehicle during the incident are Mexican nationals, according to Alatorre.

The driver, whose name and age were not immediately released, faces charges of smuggling and assault of a federal agent, he said.

www.sandiego6.com