NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

===============================================================================================================

INCIDENTS

Organ Pipe Cactus NM

Pursuit, Assault on Federal Officers

On August 21st, rangers received a call from Border Patrol agents who were requesting assistance in the pursuit of a Ford F-150 pickup truck that was heading south on Highway 85. The occupants had had an altercation with an off-duty Border Patrol agent, then fled a Border Patrol checkpoint on Highway 85 when agents attempted to detain them. The rangers assumed the lead in the chase, which reached speeds of over 110 mph. During the course of the pursuit, one of the three men in the truck climbed outside the passenger compartment and began throwing 40-ounce bottles of malt liquor and other items at the pursuing rangers. Other rangers attempted to deploy tire deflation devices, but were unable to disable the truck due to the driver's evasive actions and the traffic flow. The truck's occupants also tried to hit the ranger deploying the spikes with bottles. The pickup continued southbound at very high speeds, striking a Mexican police vehicle after it crossed the border through Lukeville. Mexican authorities continued the chase into Sonoyta, Sonora, where the pickup hit another police vehicle and ultimately ran into a building. The three men were arrested by Mexican officers, who discovered methamphetamine paraphernalia, live ammunition and alcohol in the truck. Numerous charges are pending against them in both Mexico and the United States. The pickup was reported stolen from the nearby Gila River Indian Reservation and two of the men were also wanted for questioning in connection with a recent homicide in the Phoenix area. On August 23rd, the three men were released by Mexican authorities. Two of them were subsequently detained by U.S. Customs agents as they attempted to reenter the U.S. through Lukeville. Both were turned over to Gila River Tribal Police investigators and remain suspects in the homicide. [Fred Patton, Chief Ranger]

* * * * *

Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

--- ### ---