| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: WoT |
| Reservist who held migrants at gunpoint won't be prosecuted |
| 2005-04-23 |
| Hat tip LGF, EFL. No criminal charges will be filed against an Army reservist who held seven undocumented immigrants at gunpoint this month at an Arizona rest stop. Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said Thursday that Sgt. Patrick Haab had the legal right to make a citizen's arrest because the man smuggling the immigrants into the country was committing a felony and the immigrants themselves were conspiring with the coyote to commit a felony. Arizona law allows a private citizen to make a legal arrest if a felony has been committed and the citizen believes that the person he is arresting committed the felony. The 24-year-old Haab was arrested April 10 by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office on seven counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and spent four nights in jail. He said Thursday that he was "grateful" for the outcome. Haab has said he did not know the men were undocumented immigrants. He said he drew his pistol because he feared for his life when seven men rushed out of the darkness of a rest stop on Interstate 8, where he had stopped to relieve his dog. Haab said he was clearly justified in pulling his gun that evening. But he gave several reasons as to exactly why he pursued the men to their vehicle, ordered them out at gunpoint and then detained them for authorities. His explanation included a claim that he still viewed them as assailants, he was following his dog, and he realized they were undocumented immigrants who should be taken into custody. All of those who were detained now face charges in federal court. |
| Posted by: trailing wife |
| #3 Well, it wasn't like the guy made them wear panties on their heads... |
| Posted by: Raj 2005-04-23 1:38:34 PM |
| #2 County Attorney must be an elected position :-) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-04-23 1:37:26 PM |
| #1 An outbreak of common sense in Arizona? Let's hope it's virulent... |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-04-23 1:29:52 PM |