Hereford [Arizona] kids were brave during [border intruder assault] incident, did right thing

Sierra Vista Herald/Review ^ | 22 February 2004 | Bill Hess

[Spiff]

Sheriff: Hereford kids were brave during incident, did right thing

BY BILL HESS
Sierra Vista Herald/Review

SIERRA VISTA, ARIZONA - On Friday night, Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever honored the bravery and courage of two Hereford children

Brittany Smith's actions while trying to fend off an illegal immigrant who was beating her mother while he tried to steal a family vehicle, were an act of bravery under stress that many adults would have found difficult to do, Dever said.

As for her brother, Cody McDaniel, 11, the sheriff said he had the unique courage of remaining in his home while he called 911 for help, giving the operator clear and concise information that was instrumental in leading to the capture of three illegal immigrants involved in the carjacking on Jan. 29.

The children's mother Sandy Graham, her husband, Will, and other family members watched the two receive certificates and other items from Dever at the Sheriff's substation in Sierra Vista.

Brittany, 14, said her reaction to her mother being beaten and later herself being physically assaulted by another illegal immigrant was a combination of being angry and scared.

The incident in the early morning hours of Jan. 29 began as Graham and her daughter got in a vehicle to take Brittany to school. Cody remained inside the home, waiting to walk to a school bus stop.

Brittany was in the vehicle's passenger side when a man opened the driver's side and started beating her mother as he tired to drag the woman out of the car.

The girl's response was to help her mother.

Graham was eventually pulled out of the vehicle and another man started going after Brittany. He dragged her out as he beat her with his fists and then kicked her in the back as she laid on the ground.

The two men and another one got into the vehicle and sped away. In less than an hour the vehicle was spotted and pursued by U.S. Border Patrol agents. The men stopped the vehicle and fled on foot toward Mexico before being apprehended by Border Patrol agents.

As Cody watched the action taking place, he called 911 to report the what was happening and then called Will, who had left the home only a few minutes before Graham and Brittany were getting ready to depart.

Dever told Cody, "You did the right thing, You stayed inside."

As for Brittany, Dever called her "a tough and brave girl."

The problem is the peaceful rural living conditions expect in Cochise County are increasingly being disrupted by unlawful acts by illegal immigrants, the sheriff said.

After handing the two their certificates, a small version of a Cochise County sheriff's badge and a day planner, Dever said the children and their mother will have the opportunity to face the men in court some day to tell a judge and jury their stories.

Alfredo Meza Beltran, 24; Arthur Hernandez-Hernandez, 19; and Andres Enrique Valenzuela-Valenzuela, 22, are in custody in connection with the incident. They are each charged with armed robbery, aggravated robbery, motor vehicle theft, conspiracy, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of aggravated assault. They are held in the county jail, each on a $75,000 bond and a federal immigration hold.

Neither Brittany nor Cody knew they were going to be honored with an award from Dever.

Brittany said all she knew she was just going to meet the sheriff and did not know she was to receive anything.

Cody added, "I thought we just came for him (Dever) to say hi."

Graham said she was pleased her children were recognized for what they did. By having the sheriff recognize them, "Something good came out of it (the carjacking incident)," she added.

HERALD/REVIEW senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615.

[Spiff]

ping

[Skwidd]

They were just committing a carjacking that no American wanted to do.

[reluctantwarrior]

Bump, ping, dittos, right on, if ti wasn't so serious I'd laugh.

[Spiff]

Sheriff Dever will appear briefly on Fox News Channel tomorrow night:

Breaking Point: 'The Terrorists Next Door'

Every day illegal immigrants stream into the U.S. Some come from known terrorist havens like Libya, Pakistan and Iran. Are they looking for a better way of life or a way to destroy ours?
Hosted by FNC's Linda Vester this edition of "Breaking Point" airs on Sunday, February 22 at 9 p.m. ET & re-airs at 12 a.m. ET!

Since September 11, 2001 more than two million illegal aliens have been caught trying to sneak across our borders into the United States. Most of the people apprehended have been Mexican Nationals looking for work, but in 2002, about 8,000 of the illegals arrested were “special interest aliens”. What's that term mean? It means that they were from countries with known ties to terror, people from countries like: Libya, Pakistan, and Iran. There is an endless stream of foreigners, impossible to identify, flooding into the United States, and Americans living on the frontline are concerned. Are these people looking for a better way of life or a way to destroy ours?

The immigration problems at our border with Mexico are well publicized, but there is another country that may pose an even greater threat to the national security of the United States. Why? Because it has become a safe haven for about 50 terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda. But we aren’t talking about Syria, we are talking about Canada, our friend and trading partner to the north. And with over 4000 miles of border between us to protect, the possibilities are frightening.

"The Terrorists Next Door" is another in an important series of investigative documentaries brought to you by the staff of the Fox News Channel. Don't miss it this Sunday evening at 9 p.m. ET and 12 a.m. ET.

[lakey]

bump

[Steve Eisenberg]

They were just committing a carjacking that no American wanted to do.

Me, I guess I must be hard-hearted. I couldn't help laugh at this. Great line.

[HiJinx]

Bump to Spiff's post...Sherrif Dever will be on with Linda Vesper on Fox on Sunday. Here's a chance for all those who've made comments to see who they're talking about...

[Calpernia]

ping

[ApplegateRanch]

>>illegal immigrants<<

NO!!! NO!! NO!

Criminal aliens.

[Missouri]

Bump.

[lainde]

bttt

[Free Trapper]

I like "criminal alien invaders" as a descriptive term.

[janetgreen]

Gee, if these guys would have kept their noses clean they might have been eligible for amnesty or guest worker status. Just what America needs? George Bush thinks so.

[TLI]

I like "criminal alien invaders" as a descriptive term.

Border busters?

Border bunnies?

Mexaliens?

I kinda like the "border busters" thing . . .

T L I

[SAMWolf]

Thanks HiJinx. And our government refuse to even see the problem much less do anything about it.

[TERMINATTOR]

Enemy combatants. It's clear even to a blind man, that they're invading with the approval of foreign governments.

[olde north church]

Now, if the feds refuse to protect out nations borders, wouldn't that come under the jurisdiction of a well-trained, independent militia?

[FormerACLUmember]

"Illegal immigrants" = INVADERS

[SAMWolf]

That's the way I'd read it, but then I tend to be a State's Righter.