Sheriff Babeu authorizes lethal force against cartels, bandits

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Reporter: Sergio Avila

Posted: Dec 21, 2010 6:54 PM

Updated: Dec 22, 2010 12:08 PM

PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) – Sheriff Paul Babeu has announced he plans to use deadly force, if necessary, to drive smugglers and border bandits out of his part of the desert.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office has recently been in the spotlight for sniffing out smugglers and their drug loads.  Sheriff Babeu told KGUN9 News he’s about to go on the offensive with a massive show of force to stop smugglers and bandits.

“We’re sending out three different teams of eight to fifteen deputies in each that are heavily armed, even with sniper teams, out to the desert at all hours of the day and night,” Babeu said.

Typically, deputies would sneak up on smugglers before arresting them, but Babeu says not this time.

“We’re going to wait until these cartel members come on through and we’re going to announce ourselves in Spanish in this known drug smuggling corridor. That this is the Sheriff, drop your weapons, you’re under arrest,” Babeu said.

In the week following the shooting death of a Border Patrol agent, the Sheriff admits the chances of having a gun fight in the desert are extremely high.  After all, it’s the same desert where one of his deputies was shot and where they’ve seized thousands of pounds of drugs. Babeu says deadly force will be used if his deputies confront dangerous cartels.

“I’ve given specific instruction, no less than lethal force is going to be used.  It’s all lethal force only and we go into that environment knowing that we’re likely expecting an armed threat from these people,” Babeu said.

9 On Your Side caught up with county supervisor, Pete Rios, to ask him what he thinks about Babeu’s latest tactic.

“My hope would have been that the federal government would have taken this kind of risk.  To some extent I’m concerned for the brave men and women in Pinal County that work for the sheriff,” Rios said.

Supervisor Rios told 9OYS he thinks deputies could be put to better use by trying to decrease response times.  Rios says it currently takes a Pinal County deputy anywhere from 10 to 12 minutes to respond to a priority call.  Rios admitted he knows Sheriff Babeu will do what he thinks is best for the community.

“If at the end of the day the sheriff feels compelled to do it, he will do it.  I have a lot of respect for the Sheriff and what he thinks is the best interest for the county he will obviously do,” Rios said.

 

http://www.kgun9.com/global/story.asp?s=13723962

 

 

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RELATED:

‘Rip crews’ patrolling the desert to steal from smugglers

December 21, 2010

FLORENCE, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) – Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano confirmed last week that U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed pursuing a gang of border bandits.

These criminals, also known as “rip crews,” steal from smugglers and illegal immigrants alike and are often described as the lowest of the low.  They are also operating all across the desert, near and far from the border. In Pinal County, Sheriff Paul Babeu’s deputies have had recent run-ins with these bandits.  Babeu says it’s not uncommon to see human and drug smugglers guiding their loads while heavily armed.  He told 9 On Your Side the heavy weapons are aimed at the rip crews.

“It’s not literally to fight law enforcement.  It’s to protect against these bandits or rip crews or pirates that are trying to steal from them,” Babeu said.  According to the Sheriff, these crews are always ready for a fight and are armed to the teeth.

“We know for a fact they carry long guns.  They carry semi-automatic weapons.  A lot of them have prior military training.  Some of the highest type level special forces type training and they’re military down in Mexico,” Babeu said.  These mercenaries are often lured by money.  Babeu told KGUN9 the drug cartels can usually offer then two or three times what they make in the Mexican military.  He added that the well-trained bandits often use military tactics to track drug smugglers.

Pinal county deputies recently recovered a vehicle that was made to look like a patrol car with steel push bumper, blue and red lights, and a siren.  Babeu said he believes a rip crew outfitted the car and tried to pull over smugglers to steal their stash.  When real deputies arrived, everyone fled.  What Babeu thinks makes rip crews even more dangerous is that often times they work alone and play by their own rules.

 

http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=13716965

 

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