A U.S. Border Patrol agent was assault when he tried to arrest a man he saw illegally enter the U.S. in Calexico, California, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.
The assault, the second in a week, happened Sunday at approximately 8:40 p.m. when the officer, assigned to the Calexico station, responded to an immigration violation near Downtown Calexico.
The agent was parked on First Street, next to the International Boundary fence, when he saw the suspect climb over the fence.
When the agent tried to arrest the man, he resisted and struck the agent's left orbital eye socket with his elbow, CBP officials said.
The suspect then fled, but the agent followed and soon caught up. There was a short scuffle and the agent eventually subdued the man and arrested him, CBP agents said.
“Our agent thankfully only suffered minor injuries from this assault and was able to gain control of his attacker and make the arrest,” said David S. Kim, Assistant Chief Patrol Agent, in a statement. “We will not tolerate assaults on our agents by criminals, and will vigorously pursue Assault on a Federal Officer prosecution against anyone who perpetrates such violence.”
The suspect will be charged with assaulting a federal agent, a felony punishable by fine of incarceration.
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The agent suffered a contusion to his eye, a laceration to his elbow and a possible shoulder injury.
Since Oct. 1, there have been eight reported assaults on El Centro Sector agents.
CBP officials ask anyone to suspicious activity to the Border Community Threat Hotline at 1-800-901-2003.
No other information was immediately available.
