BP agent assaulted by man wielding shovel

A local Border Patrol agent was assaulted this week by an illegal immigrant wielding a shovel, the U.S. Border Patrol announced Friday in a news statement.

The agent was not injured during the assault, which took place Thursday evening near County 9 1/4 Street, according to the statement. Agents working in the area had noticed two men carrying shovels illegally come into the United States, enter a date palm orchard and begin to dig up two trees.

When agents approached, one of the two men held up a shovel and charged toward an agent, according to the statement. The agent deployed a special weapon that fires off plastic projectiles and shot the attacker in the bicep. The attack continued until the assailant was wrestled to the ground.

Border Patrol agents gave first aid to the assailant, who was later treated at Yuma Regional Medical Center. He is now being prosecuted and processed for removal from the country, according to the statement. The Yuma County Sheriff's Office has cited the man for misdemeanor theft involving the palm trees.

The other illegal immigrant in the incident fled back into Mexico.

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Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.