Sheriff to start training: Program tool to arrest illegal immigrants

By Hazel Lodevico, Independent Newspapers
Apache Junction resident Mark Schultz was on his way to work during the early morning hours April 8 when he noticed a Dodge truck and a white van parked in the desert on the northwest corner of Idaho and Baseline. When he drove closer to take a good look, he noticed a dozen people grouped together behind the truck.

Although the members of the group waved at Mr. Schultz, he said he was sure it was a "coyote" drop off, when smugglers take their human cargo across the border from Mexico to the U.S. and deposit them somewhere in the vast desert wilderness.

Mr. Schultz called the Apache Junction Police Department, and according to Cmdr. Jay Swart, officers found five illegal immigrants wandering the area.

“We gave them something to eat and drink and handed them over to Border Patrol authorities,â€