www.signonsandiego.com

Reports of unrest at border probed

Civilian patrols say shots fired
UNION-TRIBUNE
July 25, 2005

San Diego County sheriff's deputies are investigating reports of gunfire and rowdiness Saturday night at the Mexican border where border watchers and the people protesting their presence have massed.

Border watchers patrolling an area near Jacumba reported that someone shot at them, said Lt. Bill Hogue. No one was hit.

This was the second weekend border watchers had spent in the eastern part of San Diego County. The first weekend, there were two reports of misdemeanor assaults.

Border watchers who had heard of the gunfire incident gave conflicting accounts about whether the shots came from the United States or Mexico, but they did not believe protesters were involved. Border watchers Jim Chase and Jim Haas said the border watchers were in a truck at the border about 10:45 p.m. when they heard bullets pinging off a fence near where they were parked.

Hogue said deputies would meet with witnesses to determine what occurred. Hogue said he understands from Border Patrol agents that it is not unusual to hear gunfire at the border.

Hogue had few details on the rowdiness, which ended with one person being cited on suspicion of creating a disturbance.

"I would classify neither weekend as particularly crime-ridden," Hogue said. "We have a lot of folks that are highly vocal on an emotional issue.

"I'm pretty pleased that both sides have shown pretty good restraint and there has been no physical violence other than the two allegations of assault."