Posted on 01/24/2006 11:16:12 PM PST by llevrok
Shootout closes Peace Arch border crossing Last Updated Tue, 24 Jan 2006 23:47:40 EST CBC News
A police chase at the Canada-U.S. border forced the closure of the Peace Arch border crossing south of Vancouver on Tuesday.
It also caused dozens of Canadian guards to walk off the job, fearing for their safety.
The incident started when two men, both murder suspects, tried to get into Canada. Officials say the two men, 38-year-old Ishtiaq Hussain and 22-year-old Jose Antonio Barajas, are now in custody. They are wanted on murder charges in California.
But the arrest didn't come easy. One of the suspects was wounded in a shootout with police.
U.S. sheriffs say the pair managed to make it to the check point about a metre before Canadian soil.
"They [drove] through the border and they almost struck two uniformed officers," said Bill Elf, of the Whatcom County Sheriff's Department.
The suspects continued northbound and struck the Peace Arch itself at one point.
Witness Bill Whittle didn't see the ensuing gunfight but he heard it. "I heard about seven or eight gunshots on the other side of the Peace Arch," he said. "One of [the suspects] was shot. [The police] got him out of the car."
Officials credit a brave deputy sheriff for single-handedly stopping the pair, who were considered armed and dangerous.
CBC News has learned that when unarmed Canadian border guards found out the murder suspects were coming their way they left their posts at four crossings along the B.C. border. Only two supervisors were left at each crossing to protect the Canadian side.
A spokeswoman with Canada Border Services says the guards have the legal right to refuse to work if they believe they are in imminent danger.
In their defense, Canadian Customs officers have been trying to get firearms for many, many years. Everytime the work-place safety committee says they should, and then everytime idiots in Ottawa turn them down. Hopefully the new Conservative government will think more clearly on this subject.
Are there any men in Canada left with the equipment that makes one a male?
What's the matter, do they want to live forever? ...in Canada?
---In their defense, Canadian Customs officers have been trying to get firearms for many, many years. ---
No guns? That's insane!
If you say yes, you're not brave...you're stupid.
L
In all fairness no, however I sure wouldn't take the job knowing I would not have the tools to do that job
Well..yeah. It is. The Liberal government was told on numerous occasions that the border was dangerous, and that the customs guys should be armed. They were willing to provide body armour, and collapsable batons, but nothing else. The reasons were, of course, stupid.
1. (This will make American Freepers furious!) The American Border service is already there, and are armed. The Americans can support our customs people if they hit the soup.
2. Well, we already have the RCMP. If there's a problem, we'll have them respond. The RCMP is sometimes 30kms or more away, and they aren't going to raise shot customs guys from the dead.
3. What sort of impression do we want to make on vistors to our friendly, open country? Not people with icky, *American-style* guns! Let's use this as a chance to stress how un-American we are to vistors (and save some bucks on training and equipment purchasing.)
These were also the people who made decisions about military purchasing and deployment. The rationele never changed, and as far as I'm concerned they have blood on their hands.
Agreed, we should be fair. It isn't the Canadian Custom officer's fault, the blame rests squarely on the previous regime in Ottowa. One would hope that the incoming Mr. Harper has been made aware of this, and takes the necessary measures...
the infowarrior
I talked to a Candadian border guard once while crossing the border. She was a real spunky thing. She made me take off my sunglasses for no good reason.
At least you don't have to wonder about the religion of one of them.
L
38-year-old Ishtiaq Hussain and 22-year-old Jose Antonio Barajas
Doubt it. I'm sitting here wondering about the "association" that the above names represent. Very interesting; and predicted.
Terrorist "suspects" struck the Peace Arch itself while roaring through the unarmed guards while fleeing into Canada from the United States. DC, we have a problem with our future Northern co-state.
You're most likely right. It's likely Jose is Catholic.
Welcome to the socialist utopia.
No, they were coming FROM Canada. I can't get any further information from that source.
Terrorists from Canada? Surely not. All the best OBLs tell us it's impossible.
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