BP agents fight man in stolen pickup truck at crash site

Incident happened near Quartzsite

Blythe Station Border Patrol agents were responding to what they thought was a single-vehicle accident Wednesday evening, but instead wound up fighting with a combative suspect who had reportedly stolen a pickup truck.

According to information provided by the Yuma Sector Public Affairs Office, at approximately 7 p.m., agents operating along Highway 95 near Quartzsite observed a truck sitting in the desert that appeared to have also struck a bicycle.

“Thinking the truck had actually struck a bicyclist, agents immediately called Emergency Medical Services and the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office for assistance,” the release states.

When agents arrived at the truck’s location, they found the sole occupant to be a man, and that he had apparently run over what appeared to be a discarded bicycle while driving through the desert.

While trying to speak with him, the driver became combative, forcing agents to use a less-thanlethal device to gain control until a Sheriff’s deputy arrived.

During the course of an onsite investigation, the deputy learned that the pickup tuck had been reported stolen out of Santa Ana, California, and that no bicyclist was in the area at the time of the incident.

The suspect, a 48-yearold U.S. citizen, declined medical treatment. The deputy then arrested the man for assault and possession of stolen property.

Yuma County residents can help the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll-free to report suspicious activity. Callers may remain anonymous.