Park Ranger Killed Near Border

abcnews ^ | 080902

[InvisibleChurch]

National Park Service Ranger Killed in Shooting Near U.S.-Mexico Border

The Associated Press

TUCSON, Ariz. Aug. 9 — A National Park Service ranger was killed Friday in a shootout with suspected smugglers near the U.S.-Mexico border, authorities said.

The ranger was responding, along with the U.S. Border Patrol, to a call for assistance from Mexican authorities who were chasing two men in a vehicle that crossed the border into the Organ Pipe National Monument.

Authorities were still investigating what happened, and it wasn't immediately clear why the men were being chased.

Dale Thompson, chief park ranger at the monument, said the shootout took place about 100 yards north of the border in a rugged stretch of desert known for both drug and people smuggling.

The ranger's identity wasn't released.

[madfly]

Update from: Tucson Citizen 8-10-02

Man fleeing Mexican police
kills park rangerADAM BOROWITZ
Tucson Citizen
Aug. 10, 2002
A National Park Service park ranger was shot and killed yesterday while pursuing a Mexican national in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
The ranger, who was not identified pending notification of next of kin, was shot by a man who fled Mexico after a run-in with police there, said David Hutson, chief of interpretation and visitor services at Organ Pipe.
The Mexican national also was fired upon and killed, but officials yesterday were uncertain who shot him.
Officials said the incident began in rugged desert just east of Lukeville, a port of entry about 40 miles south of Ajo.
Mexican officials contacted U.S. Customs yesterday afternoon to report two men who fled north out of Mexico into the park, Hutson said. Officials did not know why the men fled Mexico.
Roger Maier, a U.S. Customs spokesman, said officials with his agency and the Immigration and Naturalization Service received the call and notified area authorities.
The ranger, who worked as a law enforcement officer at the park, and three U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to the reports as a Border Patrol helicopter searched for the men, Hutson said.
The helicopter spotted the men's vehicle about a half mile from the border, officials said, and agents arrested one of the men without incident soon after.
Agents in the helicopter spotted the second man a short time later and directed the park ranger to him, Hutson said. The man opened fire on the ranger when he approached him, striking him below his body armor at least once.
Border Patrol agents then helped carry the ranger to a nearby road, said Ryan Scudder, a U.S. Border Patrol spokesman.
Although an emergency flight from Tucson was arranged, the ranger was pronounced dead while being taken from the scene by ambulance, Hutson said.
The ranger was one of less than a dozen workers at Organ Pipe. The tight-knit crew mourned the loss of one of their own last night.
"With a small overall staff, we're all pretty close here, so you can imagine what it's like," Hutson said.
Organ Pipe was labeled the most dangerous in the national park system, according to a 2001 national survey conducted by the Fraternal Order of Police chapter for park rangers.
The park also has become a bustling corridor for people and drug smugglers from Mexico into the United States during the past decade.
Officials yesterday said the last two months have shown an increase in violence and firepower smugglers are willing to use to get their loads of drugs or people through the park.
Maier said agents working at the park have seen smugglers who wear body armor and carry AK-47 assault rifles.
"It's a dangerous area. Smugglers are taking extreme measures to guard and protect their loads," Maier said.
Last year, authorities intercepted 200,000 migrants and 700,000 pounds of drugs in Organ Pipe. Between five and eight law enforcement rangers typically patrol the 330,000-acre park, which borders Mexico for 31 miles.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument's visitor center will be closed tomorrow, as will all scenic drives with the exception of Ajo Mountain Drive, Hutson said.

[Travis McGee]

Just a uselful little factoid to pass along.

There are also simple ways to catch a brass or two in a baggie.

[madfly]

BLAST FROM BUSHES KILLED RANGER
Arizona Daily Star
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/731302/posts?page=1
Aug. 11, 2002

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the tip and the comments.

[madfly]

bttt

[FreedomFriend]

That picture tells the story well.

[doc]

Buchanan was the only candidate serious about protecting our borders. With South America about to implode just wait for the new tidal wave of illegals from there and central America.

[EverOnward]

Soon, we're going to have to find new ways of protecting our homes and families and new forms of government. Don't ask me how that will work, but what we have now certainly doesn't work.

When the government refuses to protect its citizens, the citizens must protect themselves; however, government considers self-protection vigilantism. And the real criminals are?

[skeeter]

Last year, authorities intercepted 200,000 migrants and 700,000 pounds of drugs in Organ Pipe. Between five and eight law enforcement rangers typically patrol the 330,000-acre park, which borders Mexico for 31 miles.

Thats ~100,000 pounds of drugs per agent. I hope they are well paid...

[madfly]

BLAST FROM BUSHES KILLED RANGER
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/731302/posts

[madfly]

[nanny]

I truly don't understand that mindset. I am assuming we can agree our military should, first, last, and always protect the United States. That, of course, doesn't seem to be the official stance. Now assuming we agree, where would the military protect us - in Bosnia, Korea, Somalia, etc. No - a military in very simplistic terms should protect the United States. Why would it have to be under martial law - it is an international border!! We have evidently had National Guard there since 9/11 - of course only at the official entry points where we know all the illegals and drugs are being brought in - right!.

Our border is our first line of defense and protecting it is the first and most important job of the military.

It was done during WWII and from the recent events that have been published (I am sure there are many more), the border is looking more and more like a war zone.

[nanny]

You know I wonder if some of these 'unthinking' or 'unwilling to think' folks have been paying attention to Zimbabwe. I have. I am afraid I see the future of property owners, especially property owners, of America in the happenings there.

[madfly]

ping

[Marine Inspector]

Not to put down the Park Rangers, but the majority of those 200,000 illegals and 700,000 pounds of drugs were intercepted by the Border Patrol.

[nanny]

I am afraid we are just not willing to concede that we are not his base, and we are irrelevant and surely will be so after the mid-term elections and he can push through his amnesty program and whatever else he can do with the new fast-track trade authority.

[4America]

"We have plenty of Jordans and Askins, they just need to be given the right (and duty) to shoot back"


AMEN!!!! This situation (sooner or later) is going to get real ugly. My heart tells me, that the citizens are going to start taking this into their own hands, since our Government won't pay attention anyways.

[4America]

"And he was killed on US soil but we don't see a problem"

Obviously, this has become a major problem Fitz. These people have been angry & oppressed for the past 150 or so years. (Just a rough guess) They hate us & in their uncivilized way of thinking, they are taking back what's supposed to be theirs in the first place. This corrupt country (Mexico) makes me sick.

[4America]

"Our government is out of control, and they DO NOT have America's best interests at heart. They make me sick"

I agree Freedom. By the way, great post on Illegal Immigration over the weekend. You recieved so much bashing from people who are totally brainwashed & narrow minded. It really ceased to amaze me, that the race card came in very handy to those who want to justify Illegal Immigration. After I got done reading all of the posts on that thread, I was so upset, that my comments would have gotten me booted from FR. The direction that this issue is going sometimes scares me, but on the other hand, I'm getting real pi$$ed of at the whole deal. Our politicians are equally as corrupt as Mexico, because they are'nt doing a damn thing about it.