DPS: Policy allowed troopers to fire on suspected smuggler

[Judi Lynn]

DPS: Policy allowed troopers to fire on suspected smuggler
By Lynn Brezosky and Jason Buch
Updated 2:55 p.m., Saturday, October 27, 2012

LA JOYA — Skid marks and a patch of dried blood in the gravel of a desolate country road were about the only signs left Friday of a deadly pursuit that happened here.

Two men from Guatemala died Thursday when a Department of Public Safety helicopter opened fire on a red pickup suspected of smuggling immigrants.

A third person was hospitalized and six were arrested in the latest in a string of smuggling attempts that turned deadly while packed vehicles flee from state or federal authorities.

~snip~
“During the pursuit, the vehicle appeared to have a typical ‘covered' drug load in the bed of the truck,” Vinger said. “DPS aircraft joined the pursuit of the suspected drug load, which was traveling at reckless speeds, endangering the public. A DPS trooper discharged his firearm from the helicopter to disable the vehicle.”

No drugs were found in the truck.

More: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/DPS-Policy-allowed-troopers-to-fire-on-suspected-3985660.php#ixzz2AlZi9N4I.com/news/local_news/article/DPS-Policy-allowed-troopers-to-fire-on-suspected-3985660.php#ixzz2AlZA9FjU

[Judi Lynn]

1. Diplomat: Texas Agents Should Have Seen People

Diplomat: Texas Agents Should Have Seen People
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Associated Press
McALLEN, Texas October 30, 2012 (AP)

Texas law enforcement agents were close enough to a pickup truck to see there were people inside before one opened fire, killing two Guatemalan immigrants, a Guatemalan diplomat said Tuesday.

After interviewing seven surviving illegal immigrants, Alba Caceres, Guatemala's consul in McAllen, said there was agreement that the helicopter was 450 to 600 feet away Thursday when a trooper inside fired in an attempt to disable the fleeing vehicle.

~snip~

"They all saw it (the helicopter)," Caceres said. "All of them, including those riding up front because they were stuck against the window."

Caceres had said Monday that her skepticism was building that a helicopter could fire on a vehicle without seeing people stuffed into the cabin and bed. "Neither you nor I believe it," she said.

More:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/diplomat-texas-agents-people-17598948