AZMEX UPDATE 22 FEB 2013
Note: TXMEX day, and tattoo show
DPS changes policy on shooting from helicopters
Posted on February 21, 2013
by Jared Taylor
http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_8a094038-7c7f-11e2-
bb2a-001a4bcf6878.html
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said today
that troopers are no longer allowed to open fire from helicopters
unless they are face gunfire themselves.
The change in the helicopter shooting policy — the only one of its
kind among law enforcement agencies in Southwest border states — came
after Trooper Miguel Avila fatally shot two Guatemalan immigrants
during a helicopter chase near La Joya in October 2012.
"I'm convinced that now, from a helicopter platform, that we
shouldn't shoot unless being shot at, or unless someone is being shot
at," McCraw said.
The case has been turned over to the Hidalgo County District
Attorney's Office. No determination has been made as to whether
criminal charges will be filed. The FBI is also investigating the
trooper-involved shooting.
McCraw's announcement came as he testified before the state House
Committee on Appropriations today in Austin. He said DPS changed its
policy Friday.
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2 arrested at Hidalgo bridge after armed carjacking in McAllen
Posted: Thursday, February 21, 2013 8:17 pm
Posted on February 21, 2013
by Ildefonso Ortiz
http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/
article_0bd5ea06-7c96-11e2-87ab-001a4bcf6878.html
McALLEN – Police have charged a man and a woman with theft and
robbery charges for allegedly taking a pickup truck at gunpoint and
trying to flee into Mexico.
On Wednesday, Gerardo Valente Fuentes was taken before a McAllen
municipal judge and charged with one count of aggravated robbery. His
alleged accomplice, Nieves Marie Mireles, was charged with one count
of theft by appropriation. Bond for each was set at $100,000, and as
of Thursday afternoon both remained at the Hidalgo County Jail.
Valente also was charged by U.S. Border Patrol with illegal re-entry
after deportation and may face additional charges in other unrelated
crimes, court records show.
About 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, police were called to the parking lot of
Rio Grande Regional Hospital, 101 E. Ridge Road, after a woman said
her 2008 GMC Sierra pickup was taken at gunpoint by a man later
identified as Valente, police records show.
As McAllen police conducted the investigation, an alert was sent out
to nearby international bridges, and at the Hidalgo bridge U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officers were able to detain Mireles as
she drove the stolen vehicle toward the bridge Wednesday morning. In
a secondary inspection area, officers were able to determine that the
truck was the same one that had been stolen just hours before.
Two hours after the arrest of Mireles, CBP officers arrested Valente
as he drove a 2006 Dodge Charger toward the bridge, as well. CBP
officers confirmed that Valente was the man wanted by McAllen police
as the gunman in the robbery and turned him to their custody.
Note: interesting story, seems to be a good amount of cooperation
going on?
ICE: Agents saw cartel's hand, made 2 arrests
Posted: Thursday, February 21, 2013 3:30 pm
Mark Reagan | The Brownsville Herald
http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/
article_fdb52c52-7c6d-11e2-9e41-001a4bcf6878.html
Recognizing the tactics of a certain drug trafficking organization,
federal agents arrested two men who were known members of that
organization, according to court documents.
Agents with ICE's Homeland Security Investigations arrested Cesar
Castillo-Guevara, 21, and Francisco Martinez-Almaraz, 24, and
ultimately found seven bricks of cocaine in a truck and nine more
bricks at their home totaling a little more than 46 pounds of
cocaine, court documents show.
After conducting a controlled delivery, HSI also arrested Alberto
Banuelos, 29, as he went to pick up approximately 13 pounds of the
drug, court documents state.
At the Gateway port of entry last Friday, HSI agents were watching a
Chevrolet S10 pickup truck bearing Tamaulipas registration because
the government had information the vehicle might be used by a drug
trafficking organization.
The vehicle failed a Customs and Border Protection inspection, but
was driven to the Wal-Mart on Boca Chica Boulevard at 12:30 p.m.,
where the original driver parked and got out.
Castillo-Guevara and Martinez-Almaraz arrived at the store in a
Chevrolet Cheyenne and Martinez-Almaraz got into the now empty S10
truck, court documents show.
Because agents recognized the activity as being "standard operating
procedure for this particular DTO (drug trafficking organization),"
they conducted simultaneous traffic stops on both men who left the
parking lot in separate vehicles, according to a criminal complaint.
"Questioning of Martinez-Almaraz revealed there was contraband in the
S10, and a consensual search of the Cheyenne revealed a brick of
suspected cocaine hidden in the center console," court documents state.
The vehicles were seized and further searching of the S10 truck
revealed six bricks of cocaine hidden in the door panels; agents also
found an additional nine bricks of cocaine hidden in Castillo-Guevara
and Martinez-Almaraz's home after a consensual search, court
documents state.
A subsequent controlled delivery of the S10 to the Wal-Mart on Alton
Gloor Boulevard led to Banuelos' arrest, those documents state.
"Consensually monitored phone conversations between Martinez-Almaraz
and Banuelos were recorded, and Banuelos was arrested after speaking
about receiving the six bundles of cocaine in hand, and going to a
more isolated area to unload the cocaine," court documents state.
"Surveillance and a phone found in Banuelos' possession directly
linked him to the ongoing conspiracy."
All three men were charged with possession with intent to distribute
46.2 pounds of cocaine; they are in custody of U.S. marshals until
preliminary and detention hearings.
Border Patrol agents capture Piedras Negras prison escapee; he was
serving time for murder
Written by Staff
Tuesday, 19 February 2013 13:37
http://eaglepassdaily.com/
BRACKETTVILLE – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the
Brackettville Station captured a known fugitive who escaped from a
Mexican penal facility last year.
On Sept. 17, 132 inmates at the Centro de Readaptación Social
(CERESO) Prison at Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico escaped, sparking
a massive manhunt on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Since that
time, U.S. Border Patrol officials have worked closely with the
government of Mexico to identify the escapees, and remain in constant
communication to effect their capture.
Saturday morning, agents patrolling on a ranch near Brackettville
encountered a group of 12 undocumented aliens. During processing, it
was discovered that one of the group, Mario Nazario-Valadez, 31, was
wanted for the CERESO Prison break. Records checks revealed that
Nazario-Valadez was serving a sentence for murder at the time of his
escape and also had served time in the United States for narcotics
convictions.
Nazario-Valadez currently faces prosecution for re-entry after
deportation (8 USC 1326), after which he will be turned over to
Mexican officials.
"The U.S. Border Patrol is charged with protecting our borders
against any and all threats," said Chief Patrol Agent Rodolfo
Karisch, Del Rio Sector. "This is a case of an extremely dangerous
individual attempting to blend into a group in order to enter the
country.
"Thanks to ours agents' vigilance, training and experience he is now
back behind bars."
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