see also: in October 2005 Press Releases:   CBP Border Patrol Agents Seize Over 1030 Pounds of Marijuana and Arrest a Wanted Fugitive   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Over 104 Lbs. of Cocaine   CBP South Florida Ports of Entry Update   CBP Provides Assistance with Hurricane Wilma Fuel Crisis   United States – Australia Join Efforts To Validate Travel Documents   CBP Miami Field Office Post Hurricane Wilma Operations ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Salton City, CA – A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol Agent was injured on Saturday when a man driving a vehicle who, during questioning, attempted to flee the El Centro Border Patrol Sector’s Highway 86 immigration checkpoint.

On Saturday evening, CBP Border Patrol Agents were conducting checkpoint operations at the Highway 86 checkpoint near Salton City when a Border Patrol Canine alerted to a vehicle. The driver was then referred to the secondary inspection area.

During a search of the vehicle while in the secondary inspection area, the driver started the car and began to drive away from the checkpoint. An agent, attempting to prevent the man from fleeing, became caught on the side of the vehicle. The man continued to drive away and the agent was dragged down the highway. While the agent was being dragged, he and other agents discharged their weapons on the driver in an attempt to rescue the agent.

The agent finally became free of the vehicle and fell to the roadway. He was taken to local hospital where he was treated and released for minor injuries.

Border Patrol agents, with the assistance of the Imperial County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol initiated an intense search for the driver and vehicle.

Approximately two hours later, the abandoned vehicle was located a few miles north of the checkpoint. Agents began following footprints on a trail leading away from the vehicle and soon located and arrested the injured suspect. The suspect sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

A search of the vehicle revealed small quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana. A background check on the suspect revealed that he had and extensive criminal history.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the El Centro Border Patrol Sector’s Critical Incident Investigative Team (CIIT) are currently conducting an investigation of the incident.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security, charged with the protection of our nations borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration, and Agriculture Inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.