Thread: AZ: Border Patrol agents assaulted and make pot busts

Border Patrol agents assaulted and make pot busts
BY NICOLE E. SQUIBBS, SUN STAFF WRITER
May 7, 2007 - 10:25PM
U.S. Border Patrol agents were assaulted in two recent incidences while apprehending Mexican nationals illegally in the United States.

Agents from the Border Patrol Yuma sector's bike patrol unit were assaulted by a convicted murderer at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Agents driving a marked Border Patrol vehicle through Somerton noticed two people exit and run from a pickup truck stopped at an intersection, according to a Border Patrol news release.

The agents caught one of the subjects, who was determined to be a Mexican national illegally in the U.S. They spotted the second subject hiding behind a wall. As they approached the man, he assaulted the nearest agent, who was able to block several fist strikes, but was struck in the face by the man's head, according to the release.

The agent restrained the man and took him into custody, where a records check revealed he was convicted of murder and sentenced to prison in 1991. He was released from the Arizona Department of Corrections and deported to Mexico as an aggravated felon Dec. 10, 2006, the news release said.

The man will be prosecuted for felony re-entry after deportation, is under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was referred to the assistant U.S. attorney's office, the release said.

Another assault occurred Thursday about 13 miles east of the San Luis port of entry, when agents tracked a man who had illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico. As they approached, he swung a heavy steel cable fitted with a makeshift handle at the agents. They deployed their Border Patrol-issued pepper spray, which did not affect the man, according to U.S. Border Patrol spokesman Lloyd Easterling.

The agents were able to subdue the man with their collapsible steel batons and took him into custody, where he began spitting on the floor of the processing area. He was given a dust mask to wear to prevent agents' contact with his saliva, the release said.

Agents noticed he had a swollen ankle, so he was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center, where he was cleared for detention. He then removed his mask and began spitting on the hospital floor.

After refusing to put his mask on, he bit the agent who tried to replace his mask. The agent restrained him with the help of a Yuma Police Department officer who was at the hospital, the release said.

The man was transported to the Yuma station where a records check revealed he had a history of illegally entering the U.S., including two incidents in April, and trafficking narcotics, for which he served 120 days in jail. The Mexican Consulate and FBI were notified, and the incident was referred to the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecution, according to the release.

Yuma agents have been assaulted 156 times in fiscal year 2007 through April 30, a 41 percent increase compared with 111 incidents during the same period in fiscal year 2006.

http://www.yumasun.com/news/agents_3388 ... lease.html

Yuma agents have been assaulted 156 times in fiscal year 2007 through April 30, a 41 percent increase compared with 111 incidents during the same period in fiscal year 2006.


Ramos and Compean. 11 and 12 years respectivly for a flesh wound to a drug smuggler.

Whatever these heroes get paid, It just isn't even close to being enough.