Yuma 4X4


	Dealing With Rogue Law Enforcement "Rogue law enforcement officers have metastasized the once noble profession of peace officer into the cancerous front line of tyranny. This most pressing problem calls no region home as incidents of their repugnant brutality continue to escalate from coast-to-coast". In recent times I have heard about, and experienced encounters of rogue BLM and Border Patrol agents. Since 2005, I have encountered 3 BLM agents that acted rudely and one of them pulled his weapon and aimed it at me and my 12 year old nephew, for no reason. In 2002, my 12 year old nephew and myself were riding along the All American Canal, from Andrade Rd. over to Pilot Knob, where we saw a BLM ranger truck going fast (fast enough to be bouncing wildly). We were in a westerly direction and he was northwest of us, about 100 yards, headed in a northern direction. Once I saw that our paths were going to intersect, I stopped to let him go by. He turned in toward us and skidded to a stop right in front of my 1985 K5 Blazer, jumped out of his truck, pulled his weapon and aimed it at us and demanded us out of the vehicle with our hands up. He said were were trespassing on restricted area. I told him where we were coming from and that there were no signs saying not to enter, or "no trespassing". He argued that there was and I told him he needed to go look for himself and that he needed to put his weapon away and quit scaring my nephew to death, or I was going to call the CHP. He holstered his weapon and became a lot friendlier and we talked about our so called "violation" and I convinced him that there wasn't any signs, so he let us go on our way. I should have reported him, but I didn't. If this ever happens again, I will! Then... On January 30, 2010, One of our Trail Leaders took a group of about 13 or 14 rigs out for a run through the Barry M. Goldwater Range down to the Border Fence. Everyone was legal and had permits to be on the Range. After a while of driving through the Range, they came upon a Border Patrol Truck sitting vacant along side the road. They proceeded to the Border Fence area that we visited with the club (Yuma 4X4) in early November. As the first few vehicles rounded the corner they saw an armed Border Patrol agent on foot. He waved at the Trail Leader to stop and approached his vehicle. He made loud comments to the effect that "Did you not see the Trail Closed sign?" The Trail Leader indicated he had seen no such sign. The Border Agent again insisted there was such a sign and he should have seen it. When one member exited his vehicle to approach the Border agent with the message there was no sign, he was ordered back into his vehicle. The member did as he was ordered. The Border Patrol agent now began talking very loudly enough that Members heard him several vehicles back. He said "Where are you people from? Don't you know this is Arizona? Don't you know we have drug trafficking and smugglers our here?" When it was mentioned that we had been to this location before , the agent said "Well you're all crazy!" The agent then said that if there was no sign closing this area there should have been. He went on to explain that there had been recent sighting of a coyote or scout in the area he was patrolling. The Trail Leader then led the group of vehicles out of the area without anyone getting out to see the Border fence. The problem seems to be growing and if you spend any time in the desert, running the trails and washes, it is just a matter of time that YOU will experience an encounter with a rogue BLM, or Border Patrol agent. This does not mean all law enforcement are bad people. It just means that more people with bad attitudes are being hired to enforce the laws. These rogue agents can be weeded out if we report them when they screw up. What should I do when I'm confronted by a rogue officer? Don't provoke the agent! Stay calm and be respectful. Even if the agent is treating you like trash, he/she is still in charge of the moment and there is nothing you can do about that. He/she may even shoot you if they feel too threatened, so keep your mouth shut and follow what the agent says. Gather your own information, but try to do it discretely (don't be a smart-ass). Get a vehicle number. Border Patrol trucks have what is called a "kilo number". It's the green numbers on the sides and rear and they usually (but not always) start with the letter "K". As far as I know the BLM trcks have no ID numbers, so get a license plate number, or name of the agent. Take your information to the State BLM Office (if you're dealing with BLM), or the Sector Border Patrol in charge of the area where your incident took place (if you're dealing with Border Patrol) Take action right away, as all the details will be fresh in your head.
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Dealing With Rogue Law Enforcement

"Rogue law enforcement officers have metastasized the once noble profession of peace officer into the cancerous front line of tyranny. This most pressing problem calls no region home as incidents of their repugnant brutality continue to escalate from coast-to-coast".

In recent times I have heard about, and experienced encounters of rogue BLM and Border Patrol agents. Since 2005, I have encountered 3 BLM agents that acted rudely and one of them pulled his weapon and aimed it at me and my 12 year old nephew, for no reason.

In 2002, my 12 year old nephew and myself were riding along the All American Canal, from Andrade Rd. over to Pilot Knob, where we saw a BLM ranger truck going fast (fast enough to be bouncing wildly). We were in a westerly direction and he was northwest of us, about 100 yards, headed in a northern direction. Once I saw that our paths were going to intersect, I stopped to let him go by. He turned in toward us and skidded to a stop right in front of my 1985 K5 Blazer, jumped out of his truck, pulled his weapon and aimed it at us and demanded us out of the vehicle with our hands up.

He said were were trespassing on restricted area. I told him where we were coming from and that there were no signs saying not to enter, or "no trespassing". He argued that there was and I told him he needed to go look for himself and that he needed to put his weapon away and quit scaring my nephew to death, or I was going to call the CHP. He holstered his weapon and became a lot friendlier and we talked about our so called "violation" and I convinced him that there wasn't any signs, so he let us go on our way. I should have reported him, but I didn't. If this ever happens again, I will!

Then...

On January 30, 2010, One of our Trail Leaders took a group of about 13 or 14 rigs out for a run through the Barry M. Goldwater Range down to the Border Fence. Everyone was legal and had permits to be on the Range. After a while of driving through the Range, they came upon a Border Patrol Truck sitting vacant along side the road. They proceeded to the Border Fence area that we visited with the club (Yuma 4X4) in early November. As the first few vehicles rounded the corner they saw an armed Border Patrol agent on foot. He waved at the Trail Leader to stop and approached his vehicle. He made loud comments to the effect that "Did you not see the Trail Closed sign?" The Trail Leader indicated he had seen no such sign. The Border Agent again insisted there was such a sign and he should have seen it. When one member exited his vehicle to approach the Border agent with the message there was no sign, he was ordered back into his vehicle. The member did as he was ordered. The Border Patrol agent now began talking very loudly enough that Members heard him several vehicles back. He said "Where are you people from? Don't you know this is Arizona? Don't you know we have drug trafficking and smugglers our here?" When it was mentioned that we had been to this location before , the agent said "Well you're all crazy!" The agent then said that if there was no sign closing this area there should have been. He went on to explain that there had been recent sighting of a coyote or scout in the area he was patrolling. The Trail Leader then led the group of vehicles out of the area without anyone getting out to see the Border fence.

The problem seems to be growing and if you spend any time in the desert, running the trails and washes, it is just a matter of time that YOU will experience an encounter with a rogue BLM, or Border Patrol agent.

This does not mean all law enforcement are bad people. It just means that more people with bad attitudes are being hired to enforce the laws. These rogue agents can be weeded out if we report them when they screw up.

What should I do when I'm confronted by a rogue officer?

Don't provoke the agent! Stay calm and be respectful. Even if the agent is treating you like trash, he/she is still in charge of the moment and there is nothing you can do about that. He/she may even shoot you if they feel too threatened, so keep your mouth shut and follow what the agent says.

Gather your own information, but try to do it discretely (don't be a smart-ass). Get a vehicle number. Border Patrol trucks have what is called a "kilo number". It's the green numbers on the sides and rear and they usually (but not always) start with the letter "K". As far as I know the BLM trcks have no ID numbers, so get a license plate number, or name of the agent.

Take your information to the State BLM Office (if you're dealing with BLM), or the Sector Border Patrol in charge of the area where your incident took place (if you're dealing with Border Patrol)

Take action right away, as all the details will be fresh in your head.

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