CBP says 2 agents assaulted in separate incidents

Agency reports the two were elbowed during confrontations with migrants

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that two Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents working near Yuma and San Luis were assaulted by illegal entrants while attempting to take them into custody in separate incidents last week.

The first incident happened at approximately 2:10 a.m. on July 14, when remote camera operators observed two illegal entrants running north from the International Boundary Wall at Avenue 3½ E.

A Yuma Station agent responded to the location and found one of the individuals hiding behind a bush. As she gave verbal commands in English and Spanish to lie on the ground, the man disobeyed her commands and stood up in a fighting stance. As the agent attempted to handcuff the man, he elbowed her in the ribcage, the agent said. The agent, however, was able to get physical control of the man and place him under arrest.

The man, a 31-year-old Mexican national, was arrested for assault on a federal officer and immigration violations. The illegal entrant fled back into Mexico.

In the second incident, which happened at approximately 5:30 p.m. on July 16, remote camera operators observed a group of illegal entrants cross illegally into the country near County 9th Street and the Levee Road.

An agent apprehended one of the men and was escorting him to his vehicle when the individual began to resist. The man, a 22-year-old Honduran national, elbowed the agent in the forehead, the agent said. Additional agents responded to the area and assisted in placing the resistant man in handcuffs. The man was arrested for assault on a federal officer and immigration violations.

Three additional illegal entrants were also arrested nearby and charged with immigration violations.

Neither of the assaulted agents required medical attention and both completed their assigned shift.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.