Border Patrol agent injured by rock throwers

By XAVIER ZARAGOZA
The Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 3:09 PM MDT


A Border Patrol agent in Douglas was severely injured when he was hit on the head with a rock while attempting to apprehend a group of illegal entrants Sunday.


The agent received a five-inch laceration to the head, said Esmeralda Marroquin, a spokeswoman for the Border Patrol.

The agent was air evacuated to University Medical Center.

Saturday evening the agent had spotted a group of five illegal entrants and had attempted to catch them. The illegal entrants, though, ran south toward the border.

On the Mexican side of the border a group of people there began to throw rocks at the agent.  The agent was then hit on the head by a rock.

Marroquin said that 201 agents have been assaulted from Oct. 1 2007 through June 30, 2008, marking a six percent increase in assaults.

 “The assault on this agent was quite serious,” Marroquin said. “Depending on the force that a rock is thrown, it has the potential to kill someone.”

Agents working the close to the international boundary have been routinely targeted by rock throwers.

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Former Douglas Resident wrote on Aug 3, 2008 6:17 AM:

    " Too bad we're more concerned with defending Mexican citizens than our own Federal Law Enforcement. If our prosecuters had their priorities right, he wouldn't have been afraid to defend himself. Until that happens, however, and these criminals have no fear of retribution or prosecution, the assaults will continue. It's really too bad. "

    WestDallas wrote on Aug 1, 2008 5:30 AM:

    " He Should Pulled his Weapon out fire at those wetbacks "

    me wrote on Jul 30, 2008 1:53 AM:

    " Get well soon Sir. With the threat of being prosecuted and thrown to the wolves, the agent probably hesitated to defend himself with his weapon. Agents and law enforcement officers should never have to fear of defending your on life when others have a total disregard for theirs. Thank God the agent is OK. "

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