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Announcement from the Feds...... cause still under investigation.....

Border Patrol Agent Dies in Line of Duty

(Monday, May 14, 2007)
contacts for this news release

Indio, Calif. – A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agent assigned to the El Centro Sector’s Indio Station died in the line of duty Friday afternoon while working along the Coachella Canal near Niland, California.

Agent Goldstein was reported missing after his service vehicle was found parked and idling along the Coachella Canal, with his service K-9 partner sitting alongside. A search and rescue operation was initiated immediately involving multiple local, state, and federal agencies. Sometime later, fellow Border Patrol agents discovered Agent Goldstein’s body floating in the canal.

Agent Goldstein died at the scene. He was 37-years old and a five-year veteran of the Border Patrol. The circumstances surrounding the death are currently under investigation by the Imperial County Sheriff’s Department.

The Border Patrol family has suffered a great loss with the death of Border Patrol Agent Richard Goldstein,” said Carl L. McClafferty, Chief Patrol Agent of the El Centro Sector. "The loss of such a promising young agent, bravely carrying out his duty, has created a great emptiness within our ranks. Our thoughts and prayers are now with his family, as we honor his courage and sacrifice."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release

no address available at this time

El Centro Sector
Public Information Office

Phone:

(760) 352-3241

CBP Headquarters
Office of Public Affairs
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Room 3.4A
Washington, DC 20229

Phone:	(202) 344-1770 or (800) 826-1471
Fax:	(202) 344-1393

Update on story........

CLICK
By JULIA GLICK
The Press-Enterprise

An on-duty Border Patrol agent found dead in an irrigation canal near the Salton Sea appears to have drowned by accident with no signs of foul play, authorities said after Tuesday's autopsy.
Agent Richard Goldstein's injuries were consistent with an accidental drowning, but investigators still have no idea how Goldstein ended up in the strong currents of the Coachella Canal near Niland, said Imperial County Supervising Deputy Coroner Charles Lucas.
"There are so many more questions still than there are answers for the family," Lucas said, adding that the investigation will continue into the circumstances surrounding the agent's death.

Story continues below

Goldstein, 37, was based at the Indio station and served with the border patrol for five years. He was investigating a sensor that had been triggered near the canal Friday when he died, said Lt. George Moreno of the Imperial County Sheriff's Department.
His empty patrol car was found parked and idling with his wet patrol dog beside it. Goldstein's body was later discovered hundreds of yards downstream in the canal, Moreno said.
Memorial services for Goldstein are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Southwest Community Church, 77-701 Fred Waring Drive, Indian Wells, said Supervisory Border Patrol Agent David Kim.
A law enforcement procession will escort the casket to the church. Goldstein will be buried near his hometown in upstate New York later in the week, Kim said.
Reach Julia Glick at 760-837-4418 or jglick@PE.com