Now days it seems that the Border Patrol numbers have at least doubled down here. I've had two different incidents with them myself and have seen them pulling over a number of cars lately to. A while back I was driving from the legion to here on the ranch road in front of this place. I'd just pulled in the drive and was getting out of the car when a border patrol vehicle came speeding up and the driver slammed on the brakes and skidded to a stop blocking the driveway. He bounced out of the vehicle as I got completely out of the car. I gave him a What the hell look and he said "Oh I'm sorry sir. I just didn't recognize the vehicle." and then left.
A few days ago I was coming back from Study Butte and had just gone over the hill out side of there when a border patrol came flying up behind me and got real close to tailgating. He maintained his close distance behind me (I assume just long enough to get my license plate numbers) Then he fell back maybe a quarter mile and followed me for several miles. Again I assume long enough to check out my license plate number and then he turned around and went back toward Study Butte.
Yesterday evening while sitting on the east side of the trailer enjoying the shade and beautiful weather I heard the sound of a helicopter approaching from the south. You don't see a lot of those down here so I kept watching it. Next thing I know it is circling over head and then increased the path to an oval including here and the legion. This went on for maybe 10 minutes and then it moved away and a second helicopter came in and took its place doing the same thing. Shortly after that they started playing tag. One would move away and the other would move back in. This all went on for at least another 30 minutes.
Then I noticed that a sheriff's pickup going down 118 turned in to the legion followed shortly by a border patrol and then a Park Police vehicle. Shortly after that the two helicopters headed north and left the area.
Curiosity got the best of me so I went to the legion to see what was going on. By that time they had made an arrest of a customer there and I found out that the border patrol and park police are now backing up the local sheriff's department. That is TWO federal law enforcement agencies now getting involved in what in my opinion should remain a local or at least local/state.
I think its always been understood by the sheriff's department that if they got in a scrape that there are plenty of well armed citizens down here that would back them up if needed. The deputies have always been good people and pretty easy to get along with. I hope that doesn't change. At the rate things are going you might be better off staying in the Big City.
You sure haven't been working for the local chamber of commerce lately :-0
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't think that the feds would get involved in local affairs, unless someone broke a federal law. I would never, ever move to a big city.
DD, if I'm not mistaken the way that's supposed to work is if a federal law has been broken then the feds are supposed to handle it. If a state law was broken then the locals should handle it. Now where the Park Police come in to this equation really leaves me puzzled!
ReplyDeleteI'm still boggled that the Border Patrol dude came onto the ranch land after you. Was the guy they arrested here illegally having crossed through the Park? That would give all of them a reason to be involved, I guess...
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered "if there is a reason" the doors didn't open up for me (and the girls) down there ... who knows?
ReplyDeleteTime will tell.
And maybe there is a better door just waiting to open ... who knows?
Time will tell.
Take care of yourself, and trust your instincts.
Abby, no to both of those. The guy hasn't been around here long and he was living on the ranch. He is a Caucasian American citizen on top of that.
ReplyDelete~mc~, there is always the Starlite! ;)
I was gone on my "simple living adventure" when the Starlite closed, and when you & Frann were thinking of me to re-open it.
ReplyDeleteBut from what investigation I've done, though, it seems that viable plans are already in motion to re-open it?
Ok, now I'm really curious to know what he did that warranted 2 helicopters and 3 groups of law enforcement people...
ReplyDeleteSorry about that, David. They were probably looking for me. :D
ReplyDeleteAbby, that was 3 sheriff's deputies, 2 border patrols (with AR15s One in hand), 2 helicopters and a park ranger. I guess the Texas Highway Patrol, the CIA and the FBI were too far away to make it? I think one of the deputies mentioned domestic violence??? Different stories abound down here so who really knows? I don't.
ReplyDeleteJim, if you look for trouble down here I'm sure you can find it and they will probably find you. ;)
That is some response to apprehend one guy.
ReplyDeleteJust never know when the Law will show up or why! Does seem a little out of step with the past, though!
ReplyDeleteHope things settle back down, my friend!
Tffnguy
ReplyDeleteI think this is all a response to Governor Perry's pressure on the feds about border security. Its all polical, the real border problems are in South Texas, and the El Paso region. Not Terlingua!
Im sure when the feds back up the local sheriffs deputies its becouse the feds are bored and want to show they are actually doing something to justify thier paychecks. My advice on dealing with the feds is just to keep everything in order, license, insurance, silly stickers on car windows etc. Dont do anything wrong while driving, dont give them an excuse to pull you over. If they do pull you over, it can be seen as harassment.
Let the feds run themselves ragged chasing after illegal aliens in the desert, sit back drink beer and wave as the Blawkhawk helicopters hover overhead. Let them figure out that they are needed down here in South Texas, or somewhere else.
Looks like we will be making a trip out there a week from this next Wed, the 27th. Hopefully we can slip in and out quietly before the rush starts. Let me know if you need anything, liquor and a mallet for the tooth maybe? Looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteCaptain, I'm just waiting for the time when the border patrol starts writing traffic tickets. I've now learned that it is common practice for them to backup the sheriff's deputies and I don't know who the helicopters belonged to, but both had different markings.
ReplyDeleteDale, looking forward to your visit. Maybe Dwight can help me get the trike going while you'll are here. I don't think the heat will be here then (Outside of all the heat around here now.)
I'm sure he'll have fun giving it a try. He's been working on his momma's bike, the dang thing has a miss, just every now and again that causes it to die while at idle. He'll dicker with it and it'll frustrate him and he'll leave it alone for a couple of days. It's running better, and only does it occasionally now, which irritates him even more, I think. He's got some new plugs he's going to try, he seems to think will take care of the problem. If it doesn't he says it's a carb problem, something with an EPA thing that is sealed so it can't be adjusted, or something like that. Anyway, he'll like helping with it.
ReplyDelete