Tucson, AZ -On August 8, 2004, a Border Patrol Agent assigned to the Douglas Station fired two shots from his service issued rifle at the driver of a vehicle that illegally crossed the International Boundary and attempted to run him over.

Yesterday, at approximately 11:20 p.m., two vehicles crossed the boundary illegally in an attempt to smuggle narcotics into the United States. Intelligence gleaned by agents suggested that one vehicle was acting as a decoy, while the other was laden with the narcotics.

As the Excursion crossed the International Boundary, it became stuck in a ditch just north of the border. About 10 other smugglers that had been hiding in the brush nearby jumped out and were able to push the Excursion up onto the road. The driver of the Excursion then drove eastbound and then north on Plantation Road. A Border Patrol agent successfully deployed a controlled tire deflation device in front of the Excursion, deflating two of its tires. The driver then turned the vehicle around, and upon spotting the agent, drove off road into the brush and tried to run him over. The agent was unable to run out of harms way in the think brush and fired two rounds at the driver to stop him. The driver then veered off and absconded back into Mexico.

Two of the Dodge pick-up's tires were also successfully deflated with a controlled tire deflation device and became disabled on border road west of King's Highway. As agents approached the vehicle, the two occupants fled back into Mexico, leaving the truck behind. Agents determined that the pick-up was reported stolen out of Phoenix, Arizona. No contraband was discovered in the truck.

Tucson Sector Border Patrol Agents have been assaulted nearly 100 times this fiscal year to date, compared to 115 in all of fiscal year 2003. Although the number of assaults is similar to last year, the violent nature of the crimes is not. Frustrated smugglers have recently rammed marked Border Patrol vehicles, tried to run over agents, and have been regularly engaging agents in armed conflict.

The Border Patrol is a division of the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, a new agency within the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for managing and securing our nation's borders.