[Willowdared]

Border Patrol Agent injured trying to stop suspected smugglers
Story Created: Oct 30, 2008
Story Updated: Oct 31, 2008

The Santa Rita subdivision was crawling with local and federal law enforcement last night, as agents searched for the attacker of one of their own.

A border patrol agent was struck down by a human smuggler.

The agent had stumbled across a human smuggling ring and was attacked after he tried to put an end to it.

A frenzy of law enforcement combs a south Laredo neighborhood desperately searching for the smuggler who ran over a border patrol agent.

“The vehicle made a second attempt to strike the agent after he had already been struck and at that point the agent took the appropriate action to protect himself.”

Field operations supervisor, Eugenio Rodriguez says, the agent responded to a tip that a group of undocumented immigrants snuck into the country and were waiting for their smuggler in the thick brush next to the riverbanks.

“They approach the river area to pick up undocumented aliens and smuggle them further north.”

Agents say as the smuggler tried to get away in his car, it hit the agent.
“The training that we receive is to actually react to any situation and any situation can quickly escalate in a matter of seconds but we have to be prepared.”

The agent was forced to shoot at the car possibly hurting the suspected smuggler.

That’s because incidents like this are part of the daily challenge of protecting the border.

The agent is a new recruit stationed at the Laredo south substation.
He returned to his house this morning, and is said to be doing fine.

While the investigation is underway, he'll be placed on administrative duties.
The FBI, LPD and Border Patrol are investigating this case.

The car the smuggler was driving was found a few blocks away... and they are hoping to get leads off of that.

[2 Blue 4 U]

Speedy Recovery to the Agent!