Bandits in Cop Cars; But Napolitano Isn’t Listening, Arizona Sheriff Says

CNSNews ^ | December 16, 2010 | Susan Jones

[jazusamo]

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.
(CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)

(CNSNews.com) - Paul Babeu, the sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, says give him half an hour, and he could tell President Obama how to secure the U.S. border with Mexico -- if only the president and other administration officials would listen to him.

Babeu joked that he must be on the White House “do not call” list, even though he’s the president of the Sheriff’s Association for the State of Arizona.

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Babeu lamented the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol agent on Tuesday at the hands of “bandits” – illegal aliens in the U.S. who steal from cartel members who sneak drugs into the United States.

It’s an ongoing problem, Babeu said: “We had just this past weekend other bandits that are using what appear to be a police car – with lights and sirens, red and blue lights, push bumper, spotlights – that are stopping vehicles, trying to steal drugs from cartel members -- in my county.”

Yet Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano doesn’t talk to him, Babeu said – “because we have a different opinion than her about the reality of what our country is facing.”

Babeu knows exactly what he would tell Napolitano and the president – if they would listen to him or accept his invitation to “come see what we’re facing.”

“We need 6, 000 armed soldiers,” Babeu said. “We need to build and complete the double barrier fences that he suspended – stopped the construction; and then, a novel concept – we need to enforce the law. You come into America, you’re breaking America’s laws – you’re apprechended then you’re formally deported. You come back into our country illegally, you’re going to prison.  Those three things…will secure our borders,” Babeu told Fox News.

As things stand now, neither President Obama nor Janet Napolitano has spoken to Babeu, despite his efforts to get them on the phone – or to visit Pinal County in person.

He said Napolitano’s visit to Arizona today and tomorrow does not signal that the administration is taking the danger any more seriously: “Here we’ve heard nothing except that the border’s more secure than ever, unprecedented resources…”

On Tuesday, in a conference call with border sheriffs and police chiefs that did not include Babeu, Napolitano reviewed what the Homeland Security Department has done to boost border security in the past year.

It’s not enough, Babeu argues.

As CNSNews.com has reported, Napolitano's conference call came on the same day that Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered near Nogales, Arizona.

Pinal County is in south-central Arizona, about 70 miles from the U.S. Mexico border, but it is along the drug corridor leading from Mexico to Phoenix.

Also see:
Sheriff Babeu: It’s ‘An Outrage’ Obama Stopped Building Border Fence (Aug. 26, 2010)
Arizona Sheriff Says Cops Are Being Killed by Illegal Aliens; Joins Call for U.S. Troops at Border (Apr. 20, 2010)
Arizona Sheriff: ‘Our Own Government Has Become Our Enemy’ (Aug. 1, 2010)
Arizona Now Has ‘Whopping 30’ National Guard Troops and 15 Billboard Signs Warning Citizens About Drug Cartels (Sept. 1, 2010)

[Tupelo]

“Is it the law or policy stopping this sheriff from doing his job? If law he should help change it, if policy then the failure is his fault.”

My guess is it is the law and not policy since it is pretty hard to control the border when the county line is seventy (70) miles from the border. Pinal County is NOT on the border. One County and one Indian reservation in between. As for changing the law, have you heard of SB1070? Babeu is a big proponent. Sorry but your facts are wrong.

[no-to-illegals]

I believe the American people are being told little to nothing regarding our southern border. I believe there is a cover-up at the federal and national media level which offers so little truth, that we may as well be listening to a foreign news source which is UN or Communist funded.

I have strong opinions when I heard, what I hear, which is small amounts of information regarding what is actually taking place. This reminds me of how little has been shared with Americans in relation to 911. The only way Americans can be fooled is withhold information from the American public. They (politicians and media) make it easy to make the public think they are here to inform and help our nation survive. Yet truth be told the majority of politicians and national media work to bury this nation.

I believe the Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is a person of honor, who is being ignored by the politicians who control Americans along the border regions, forcing the LE of the border regions to face being removed and possible federal charges if they (the LEs) attempt to do what is right and proper for this nation's citizens, by serving, protecting and defending.

This attitude by politicians, judges, lawyers to protect those who are invading this nation drives a wedge between LE and those who protect the invaders and our nation's citizens. I believe this is by design. Not a conspiracy but by design, NTL. Law Enforcement is frustrated, and I do not blame them. When you do your job correctly and the politicians, judges, and lawyers work to undo the good work done by our LEOs, wouldn't you be frustrated too?

There are good and bad in LE, but the overwhelming majority try to uphold their oaths to the public. Can anyone think the majority of our politicians, judges, and lawyers uphold their oaths to the citizens of this nation?

I apologize for the rant. Sometimes things need saying. I realize everyone here is informed, yet there are too many who remain uninformed. I pray there are solutions. Any thoughts of what can be done legally? And I will agree, maybe there is no legal solutions, except the ones contained within our Declaration of Independence and Constitution. I pray though, there will be another way. God, could you pick up the phone?

[jazusamo]

Yep, I picked up on that too. She probably got that from the sheriff and figured maybe he knew what he was talking about.

[jazusamo]

Yep, but it’s still criminal.

[Tupelo]

“The state run media described the killers as ‘bandits who prey on illegal aliens’.”

Riiight. That car had several hundred pounds of marijauna in it. But the driver was probably here illegal, so the media can say they didn’t lie.
Except by omission.

[no-to-illegals]

Good to see you back!

[upchuck]

A fence is worthless without armed men to stop it from being destroyed.

Depends on the fence...

This fence is in Israel. Maybe we could pay them to give us some lessons. Nah, that would make too much sense.

[Oldpuppymax]

Get a CLUE, sheriff. Hussein is going to do NOTHING to annoy 40 million future democrat voters and welfare recipients.

[no-to-illegals]

Our technical people also have equipment, which is helping, in the area. The real problem is (imho), there are too many crossing illegally and thus far the politicians have impeded the efforts, by LE, to employ our military effectively.

[jazusamo]

Very well said. The few that do uphold their oaths like Babeu and Arpaio and there are many others have to fight the powers that be as well as the criminals. Look at the fiasco of the Holder/Obama fight against AZ 1070, they should be congratulating the governor, legislators and the people for enacting it but no, the turkeys in Washington have an agenda.

Hopefully the present makeup of SCOTUS will shoot down Obama on this if it gets to them . If we lose a conservative on the court before it gets to them we’re in trouble.

I thought it was a great rant. :-)

[Tupelo]

This is a copy of the press release sent out by th ePinal County Sheriff's Dept. on this incident.

Monday, December 13, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Media Relations, Tim Gaffney, 520-705-8124
“Rip Crew” Conducting Traffic Stops in Vekol Valley
On December 11th, 2010 at 10:01 p.m. a Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputy was patrolling along Interstate 8 near Vekol Valley. The deputy observed a white Ford Crown Victoria which appeared to be disabled on the south shoulder. As the deputy got closer, he discovered the vehicle was stuck in the loose dirt, the trunk was partially open and the rear passenger windows were down. In front of the Crown Victoria, the deputy observed a tan Ford Taurus. The Taurus was approximately 20 ft in front of the Crown Victoria and had apparently crashed into a barbed wire fence. The occupants of both vehicles fled the scene. Both vehicles contained packaged bails of marijuana.
During the investigation, it was discovered the Crown Victoria had been outfitted to represent a law enforcement vehicle. The vehicle had red and blue strobe lights, orange and white strobe lights, a siren, spotlight and front push bar.
It is believed that based upon the positioning of the vehicles, the fact the rear windows of the Crown Victoria were rolled down, the trunk open with a bail of marijuana in it, a black ski mask and black hoodie sweater found next to the driver's seat, that this was an attempted rip of the marijuana in the Ford Taurus by a “rip crew”.
It appears the Crown Victoria had attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Taurus, which veered off of the road, hit the fence and then the occupants fled. Some of the marijuana had already been loaded from the Taurus into the Crown Victoria. The engines for both vehicles were still running when deputies discovered the vehicles. Fourteen bails of marijuana were recovered, which weighed a total of 319 pounds. The street value of the seized marijuana is $159,500.
Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “Drug and human trafficking is a crime my deputies deal with on a daily basis. This case shows how those responsible for drug and human trafficking are attempting to conduct their business under the disguise of law enforcement. This tactic not only puts law enforcement at risk but also the citizens of Pinal County.”
Below are photos of both vehicles and the marijuana seized.

[devistate one four]

I think the entire dem party needs to be tested for drugs!

Nobody is as stupid as they act.

[no-to-illegals]

The problem, as I see it, is America and Americans are well down the path to being in trouble. I do no longer believe the situation can be turned around with a knock down drag out, where America may not win. I believe, it is a given, America and Americans are not winning at this moment in time.....mho

[jazusamo]

Thanks for posting. It’s hard to believe they only put one deputy in a car in areas like that though it’s because of funding. With the feds wasting billions on every hair brained idea to fund ridiculous projects run by idiots it seems there’s none left over for what really counts.

[Fee]

How is the feds going to do anything when corporate America reps are in DHS HQ warning against over reacting and creating an isolationist nation that can jeopardize importing cheap labor and free trade???? Corporate lobbyists are working on the GOP while corporate funded immigration advocate groups are working on the Dems. Get corporate America out of Congress and we might have a chance in stopping illegal immigration and securing our borders. Who do you think DHS officials will listen to? Corporate lobbyist who will offer lucrative post government jobs in corporate sponsored think tanks, consulting firms and etc as post government careers or throw all that away to make a bunch of fly over country Americans happy???

[Fee]

How is the feds going to do anything when corporate America reps are in DHS HQ warning against over reacting and creating an isolationist nation that can jeopardize importing cheap labor and free trade???? Corporate lobbyists are working on the GOP while corporate funded immigration advocate groups are working on the Dems. Get corporate America out of Congress and we might have a chance in stopping illegal immigration and securing our borders. Who do you think DHS officials will listen to? Corporate lobbyist who will offer lucrative post government jobs in corporate sponsored think tanks, consulting firms and etc as post government careers or throw all that away to make a bunch of fly over country Americans happy???

[SandRat]

Sheriff Paul Babeu should not be surprised at ex-Gov. Napolitano’s ignoring him as she did the same when she was the Gov, and O-Bozo is just doing what his Commie Teachers taught him.

[jazusamo]

I agree and don’t think he’s surprised but merely jabbing her and Obama whenever he can.

I’m praying the feds lose their suit against AZ, if so these Sheriff’s are going to have much more say.

[The Theophilus]

He has no authority over the fence and he has no budget for 6000 armed men.

Arizona writes a new law directing the DAs not to investigate/prosecute vigilantes and he will have 600,000 well armed men with zero tolerance mentality - overnight.

[AuntB]

Thank you! Still recovering, will drop in once in a while.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!