Posted on 09/16/2004 4:03:22 PM PDT by hsmomx3
PHOENIX (AP) -- An FBI agent shot an acquaintance of a border watch group member while trying to serve an arrest warrant, FBI officials said Thursday.
The shooting happened about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday in a grocery store parking lot in Douglas along the southeastern Arizona border with Mexico.
According to the FBI, the agent was trying to serve Casey Nethercott of Douglas. Nethercott is a known member of Ranch Rescue, a group that works to protect private property along the southern U.S. border.
Ranch Rescue and several other unauthorized groups have been patrolling along the border looking for illegal immigrants, raising concerns among migrants rights groups about potential abuses.
At the time, Nethercott was with 22-year-old Kalen Riddle, also of Douglas.
Charlene Thorton, special agent in charge of the Phoenix FBI office, said that "actions taken by Nethercott and Riddle led one of the FBI agents to fire his weapon."
The FBI would not elaborate.
Riddle was airlifted to a Tucson hospital, but FBI officials would not disclose his condition.
The FBI said it won't release the name of the agent who fired the shot, keeping with FBI policy.
The warrant the FBI was trying to serve charges Nethercott with assaulting a federal officer. It was issued Sept. 8 by a federal magistrate in Tucson.
Nethercott, 37, is a convicted felon who served prison time in California.
He was also found guilty in June by a Texas jury of felony firearm possession. An accompanying assault charge that accused Nethercott of pistol-whipping an illegal immigrant ended in a mistrial after jurors deadlocked on the charge.
In the Texas case, Nethercott was accused of pistol-whipping Edwin Alfredo Mancia Gonzales, 26, while on armed patrol at a Hebbronville, Texas, ranch in March 2003.
He and several other Ranch Rescue members were patrolling a ranch owned by Joe Sutton, who said he asked for their help because he did not want illegal immigrants and drug smugglers on his land. Nethercott, Ranch Rescue and the Suttons have been named in a civil lawsuit seeking damages backed by immigrants' rights groups. That lawsuit has not yet been heard.
This one must be pretty bad because the FBI got out all the bad news on their victim before attempting any explanation for the shooting.
Could be the agent shot the guy in the back.
This is one to keep your eyes on.
Can you say Randy Weaver?
Can you say Randy Weaver?
Good thing it wasn't an illegal that was shot by a LEO. They'd have attorney's hired by the Mexican government and end up owning half of Texas.
Since it was an American who got tagged, the Feds can just add on a charge of resisting and forget about it.
Gee, maybe if Dubya's war on terrorism included monitoring the border there would be no need for these types of groups.
I'll second that motion. Let's hope to God there is a plan to do so on Nov 3rd.
W needs to do something about the freaking boarders, at least remove the welcome mat. I feel like he has Tom Beaudette P R ing for the US in america saying "We'll leave the light on for ya."
...however, an ABC newscrew spotted FBI agents in a local Denny's soon after the shooting, drunkenly toasting one of their party, 'Lon.'
Maybe the nitwit who got shot put others in danger by his actions. I am sure there is a lot more to this story.
"The FBI would not elaborate".
This one must be pretty bad because the FBI got out all the bad news on their victim before attempting any explanation for the shooting.
Reading my mind.
This is one to keep your eyes on.
We plan to. Please, if you or anyone hear anything else, ping me.
Ping.
ping
According to the FBI, the agent was trying to serve Casey Nethercott of Douglas. Nethercott is a known member of Ranch Rescue, a group that works to protect private property along the southern U.S. border.
We can't have that now, can we?
Ranch Rescue and several other unauthorized groups have been patrolling along the border looking for illegal immigrants, raising concerns among migrants rights groups about potential abuses.
The FBI says the criminal illegals are concerned.
Charlene Thorton, special agent in charge of the Phoenix FBI office, said that "actions taken by Nethercott and Riddle led one of the FBI agents to fire his weapon."
Actions? What actions? If the actions were bad enough to shoot someone, why not say what those actions are? Why the secrecy?
The FBI would not elaborate.
Obviously not.
Riddle was airlifted to a Tucson hospital, but FBI officials would not disclose his condition.
So the shot the 22 year old? Is Kalen Riddle a female?
The FBI said it won't release the name of the agent who fired the shot, keeping with FBI policy.
Of course not.
The warrant the FBI was trying to serve charges Nethercott with assaulting a federal officer. It was issued Sept. 8 by a federal magistrate in Tucson.
Yes, but what about this incident?
Nethercott, 37, is a convicted felon who served prison time in California.
More background, but no details of this incident.
He was also found guilty in June by a Texas jury of felony firearm possession. An accompanying assault charge that accused Nethercott of pistol-whipping an illegal immigrant ended in a mistrial after jurors deadlocked on the charge.
More details about an old case.
In the Texas case, Nethercott was accused of pistol-whipping Edwin Alfredo Mancia Gonzales, 26, while on armed patrol at a Hebbronville, Texas, ranch in March 2003.
More details about an old case, that have been denied and disputed.
He and several other Ranch Rescue members were patrolling a ranch owned by Joe Sutton, who said he asked for their help because he did not want illegal immigrants and drug smugglers on his land. Nethercott, Ranch Rescue and the Suttons have been named in a civil lawsuit seeking damages backed by immigrants' rights groups. That lawsuit has not yet been heard.
What does this have to do with this shooting? Illegal alien rights groups? Oh yeah, those guys.
Clearly this stinks. They have painted the shooting victims friend in the worst light possible, yet failed or declined to reveal *any* details surround this incident. Sound extremely defensive to me.
The warrant the FBI was trying to serve charges Nethercott with assaulting a federal officer. It was issued Sept. 8 by a federal magistrate in Tucson.
Nethercott, 37, is a convicted felon who served prison time in California.
He was also found guilty in June by a Texas jury of felony firearm possession.
OK - I remember when Ranch Rescue was recruiting - they said that anyone applying to be part of the organization must not have a criminal background (at least to carry). If they allowed this guy to participate ARMED, they broke their own policy. Not too wise in this world of people looking for any excuse...
I do have a problem with the overall negative light this shines on the organization. I think we all know that the Feds don't like this group for one primary reason - they are doing the job of the government - protecting our borders. If the border patrol would/could do the job, there would be no need for a group like Ranch Rescue. But until the government decides to do it's CONSTITUTIONAL duty to protect our borders, it will be up to groups of private citizens (quite arguably a Militia as defined in the Constitution) to do the job of protecting our own land.
But in this case - I'm leaning towards the FBI agent being correct (at least until I hear some other evidence).
Not one scrap of detail. Nothing, except to discredit one of the individuals in a case that has nothing to do with this incident.
LOL. Without one shred of evidence, witness statement, or one single detail regarding this incident?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.