A man with local ties suffered injuries last week when a U.S.
Border Patrol agent drove a vehicle over him and another man after
a surveillance camera had observed two suspects illegally cross the
border in a desert area, according to the California Highway
Patrol. A border patrol spokesman today noted how that area, near
the All-American Canal, is common for illegal smuggling.
A man with local ties suffered injuries last week when a U.S. Border Patrol agent drove a vehicle over him and another man after a surveillance camera had observed two suspects illegally cross the border in a desert area, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Jaime Rodriguez, 41, was the resident injured Wednesday evening in the incident in El Centro near the Mexican border, according to the CHP, which is investigating the accident. The CHP listed Rodriguez as a Hollister resident, while his wife Yvonne Rodriguez contended his last official residence was Gilroy. The other man, Jorge R. Arrojo, also sustained “moderate to serious” injuries after the two were struck while hiding in brush. Arrojo’s residence is listed as unknown, according to the CHP.
A border patrol spokesman, meanwhile, said neither resident was a U.S. citizen and both were classified as “illegal aliens.”
It happened around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday when a border patrol surveillance camera observed two suspects illegally crossing the border, in the area of Barbara Worth and Carr roads. A border patrol agent was dispatched to the area and, while looking for the suspects, drove a Chevy Tahoe through heavy brush at 5 mph to 10 mph toward an open clearing, according to the CHP.
The agent stopped and got out of the truck to look for footprints, and heard moaning noises coming from behind the sport utility vehicle. The agent located “two illegal border crossers who had been hiding in the brush” and had been run over, according to the CHP, which was notified after the request for medical aid.
Border patrol Public Affairs Officer Jonathan Creiglow explained how that area of the border, near a port of entry, is a “pretty common area” for smuggling. The border there is separated by the All-American Canal, which is the likely crossing point.
Once across the border in that area, there are old, undeveloped agriculture fields. There is both low and high brush and salt cedars, Creiglow told the Free Lance.
“In that area, there is a lot of low and also high brush,” he said. “If standing in it, it’s pretty hard to see around the brush.”
He noted how the border patrol uses “a lot of technology” around the area, but said the high brush does prevent agents from seeing suspects, even with infrared equipment. He said agents usually use standard “tracking” in that they look for tracks. “Agents will try to drive at a slow pace,” he said.
Both of the suspects were airlifted to Desert Regional Medical Center. They complained of pain to their entire bodies, and Arrojo lost consciousness. Several messages were left with the public information officer, Rich Ramhoff, at Desert Regional Medical Center. He did not return phone calls before press time.
Additionally, the border patrol agent was uninjured. According to the Imperial Valley Press, CHP Patrol Sgt. Terry Brollini identified the border patrol agent as Michael Mendez.
Yvonne Rodriguez, who noted how she previously lived in Hollister when referencing what she called “very inaccurate” information provided by the CHP about the incident, said she could not comment further about the situation because the family is considering legal action.
A CHP spokesman for the El Centro area in Imperial County did not return messages for additional comment Monday.
