http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=33918
Leader of border group arrested
Head of illegal-alien monitors busted on gun-related charges
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Posted: August 5, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Jon Dougherty
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
The leader of a southwestern U.S. border group that electronically monitors illegal-alien traffic has been arrested on gun-related charges, according to local law-enforcement officials.
Authorities with the Cochise County (Arizona) Sheriff's Department arrested Glenn Spencer, founder and head of the American Border Patrol on Saturday, charging him with three counts of disorderly conduct with a weapon, a count of endangerment and a count of criminal damage.
It was unclear how long Spencer could go to jail if convicted of all counts.
According to the Sierra Vista Herald, Spencer was held in the county jail until Sunday.
Sheriff's department spokeswoman Carol Capas told WorldNetDaily Spencer was charged then released on his own recognizance.
The Herald said an off-duty sheriff's deputy who lives near Spencer in Sierra Vista heard gunfire from the direction of Spencer's home on Friday. The deputy called the sheriff's department, and other officers responded. Attempts to contact Spencer were reportedly unsuccessful.
Deputies then left a note on Spencer's door requesting he contact them so they could talk to him about the reported gunfire.
The next morning, an unidentified woman who is the deputy's neighbor contacted him and asked about the sounds of gunfire. She said she had heard several shots Friday evening and discovered what appeared to be gunfire damage to her garage. No one was injured in the alleged shootings.
At that point, the deputy again called his department. He and other deputies then responded to Spencer's home once again.
While attempting to contact Spencer, officers discovered several shell casings, the Herald said.
The deputies made contact with Spencer, and he told them Friday evening he heard noises outside his home and went to check on them.
The Herald said Spencer reportedly admitted to deputies he fired several shots Friday night from a lever-action .357 rifle. The paper said the shell casings deputies discovered matched the caliber of Spencer's rifle.
Capas told WorldNetDaily it was unclear whether deputies had obtained forensic firearms evidence matching bullets from the woman's garage to Spencer's rifle, but she added the department was continuing its investigation.
She also said the law forbids the discharge of firearms within a quarter-mile of a residence.
A statement published on the American Border Patrol's website suggested the alleged gunfire may have been in response to property theft following two days of death threats.
"Following two straight days of death threats, Wednesday and Thursday, American Border Patrol's headquarters near Sierra Vista, Ariz., were invaded by burglars Thursday night or Friday morning," said the statement. "The burglars used bolt cutters to gain access to ABPs equipment yard and entered the residence area through an adjoining gate. Equipment was stolen from both areas. The burglary was reported to Cochise County Sheriffs; however no suspects have been identified to ABP to date."
The statement said losses amounted to about $6,000. It also said the e-mailed death threats were forwarded to the FBI.
Spencer could not comment to WorldNetDaily regarding his arrest, citing advise of counsel.
Some border activists who are trying to help federal authorities curb illegal immigration believe they are being purposely targeted for retribution by well-funded opposition groups.
They point to the recent arrests of Spencer, Civil Homeland Defense founder Chris Simcox, and two members of Ranch Rescue as evidence for their claim.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Casey Nethercott and Hank Conner, Ranch Rescue members, were arrested in Hebbronville, Texas, by a Texas Ranger for allegedly pistol-whipping two illegal aliens from El Salvador they discovered while patrolling a vast swath of property owned by local rancher Joe Sutton. Both men remain in custody, but witnesses have claimed the men are innocent.
A U.S. Park Service ranger arrested Simcox for unlawfully carrying a firearm on federal land. The activist claims the ranger targeted him because of his "anti-Hispanic" activities.
In an earlier interview, Simcox told WorldNetDaily he had been warned that members of his group would be "picked off one by one" by opposing groups south of the border if they continue their border-control operations.
Leader of border group arrested
Head of illegal-alien monitors busted on gun-related charges
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: August 5, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Jon Dougherty
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
The leader of a southwestern U.S. border group that electronically monitors illegal-alien traffic has been arrested on gun-related charges, according to local law-enforcement officials.
Authorities with the Cochise County (Arizona) Sheriff's Department arrested Glenn Spencer, founder and head of the American Border Patrol on Saturday, charging him with three counts of disorderly conduct with a weapon, a count of endangerment and a count of criminal damage.
It was unclear how long Spencer could go to jail if convicted of all counts.
According to the Sierra Vista Herald, Spencer was held in the county jail until Sunday.
Sheriff's department spokeswoman Carol Capas told WorldNetDaily Spencer was charged then released on his own recognizance.
The Herald said an off-duty sheriff's deputy who lives near Spencer in Sierra Vista heard gunfire from the direction of Spencer's home on Friday. The deputy called the sheriff's department, and other officers responded. Attempts to contact Spencer were reportedly unsuccessful.
Deputies then left a note on Spencer's door requesting he contact them so they could talk to him about the reported gunfire.
The next morning, an unidentified woman who is the deputy's neighbor contacted him and asked about the sounds of gunfire. She said she had heard several shots Friday evening and discovered what appeared to be gunfire damage to her garage. No one was injured in the alleged shootings.
At that point, the deputy again called his department. He and other deputies then responded to Spencer's home once again.
While attempting to contact Spencer, officers discovered several shell casings, the Herald said.
The deputies made contact with Spencer, and he told them Friday evening he heard noises outside his home and went to check on them.
The Herald said Spencer reportedly admitted to deputies he fired several shots Friday night from a lever-action .357 rifle. The paper said the shell casings deputies discovered matched the caliber of Spencer's rifle.
Capas told WorldNetDaily it was unclear whether deputies had obtained forensic firearms evidence matching bullets from the woman's garage to Spencer's rifle, but she added the department was continuing its investigation.
She also said the law forbids the discharge of firearms within a quarter-mile of a residence.
A statement published on the American Border Patrol's website suggested the alleged gunfire may have been in response to property theft following two days of death threats.
"Following two straight days of death threats, Wednesday and Thursday, American Border Patrol's headquarters near Sierra Vista, Ariz., were invaded by burglars Thursday night or Friday morning," said the statement. "The burglars used bolt cutters to gain access to ABPs equipment yard and entered the residence area through an adjoining gate. Equipment was stolen from both areas. The burglary was reported to Cochise County Sheriffs; however no suspects have been identified to ABP to date."
The statement said losses amounted to about $6,000. It also said the e-mailed death threats were forwarded to the FBI.
Spencer could not comment to WorldNetDaily regarding his arrest, citing advise of counsel.
Some border activists who are trying to help federal authorities curb illegal immigration believe they are being purposely targeted for retribution by well-funded opposition groups.
They point to the recent arrests of Spencer, Civil Homeland Defense founder Chris Simcox, and two members of Ranch Rescue as evidence for their claim.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Casey Nethercott and Hank Conner, Ranch Rescue members, were arrested in Hebbronville, Texas, by a Texas Ranger for allegedly pistol-whipping two illegal aliens from El Salvador they discovered while patrolling a vast swath of property owned by local rancher Joe Sutton. Both men remain in custody, but witnesses have claimed the men are innocent.
A U.S. Park Service ranger arrested Simcox for unlawfully carrying a firearm on federal land. The activist claims the ranger targeted him because of his "anti-Hispanic" activities.
In an earlier interview, Simcox told WorldNetDaily he had been warned that members of his group would be "picked off one by one" by opposing groups south of the border if they continue their border-control operations.
