American Border Patrol's Glenn Spencer arrested on gun charge

Sierra Vista Herald ^ | August 3, 2003 | Bill Hess

[Selmo]

SIERRA VISTA -- The head of the American Border Patrol was arrested Saturday and booked into jail on three counts of disorderly conduct with a weapon, a count of endangerment and a count of criminal damage.

Glenn Spencer, who lives south of Sierra Vista is being held in the sheriff's Sierra Vista jail pending his initial appearance today, said Carol Capas, spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Department.

No one was injured in the reported shooting, and Spencer did not resist being arrested around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, she said.

The incident that led to Spencer's arrest began about 9:30 p.m. Friday when a sheriff's deputy returned home after going off duty, Capas said, adding the deputy lives near Spencer.

After arriving home, the deputy heard what he believed was a gunshot, Capas said. The deputy then went outside and reportedly heard a "second gunshot east of his home."

The deputy called the Sheriff's Department.

When other officers arrived, they attempted to contact Spencer to no avail, Capas said.

The deputies left a note on a door at Spencer's home asking him to call them so they could obtain information about the reported gunshots, Capas said.

On Saturday morning, a woman who is the deputy's neighbor went to the deputy's home and asked about the gunshots on Friday night, Capas said. The woman told the deputy that she heard several shots Friday night, and she had found what she believed to be gunshot damage to her garage.

The deputy again called the Sheriff's Department and officers arrived. The deputy also accompanied the officers to Spencer's house.

The officers came upon several empty shell casings on Spencer's property while they were attempting to contact him, Capas said.

On Saturday morning, Spencer allegedly told the officers he heard noises Friday evening outside his home and went out to check on them, Capas said.

Spencer reportedly said he did fire several rounds from a lever-action .357 caliber rifle, Capas added. The empty shell cases found on Spencer's property allegedly match the weapon Spencer was said to have used.

HERALD/REVIEW senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 458-9440 Ext. 115 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com

[SandRat]

I read that this morning and could not believe it.

Had to read it twice and something about it just does not smell right.

Oh it all looks perfect on the surface of the story but something sounds too pat about this.

[VU4G10]

Bad boy Spencer, he should know that guns scare the invading horde.

[yooper]

I've been wondering how long before something like this would happen. Too many patriots with guns for the Feds to ignore. I suppose BATF decided it was time to squash one of them.

[Old Sarge]

I concur with others on this thread. The scenario is too clean, and the ABP is a group the Left-dominated judiciary has wanted fr some time.

[Spiff]

Ah, crap! I'll tell you what. I know Spencer and he's alot smart than this. He wouldn't just start shooting randomly. There's got to be more to this story and I'm going to try to run it down.

[Spiff]

smart = smarter

[El Gato]

I suppose BATF decided it was time to squash one of them.

Don't see any mention of BATFE in the story.Sounds like the Sherrif, who is the highest law enforcment officer of the county, and is elected to boot, got a complaint from a neighbor and investigated. There likely is more to the story, for instance, why someone, possibly Spencer, decided to crank off a few rounds in the middle of night. Might be a good reason, might not be.

[Spiff]

Don't see any mention of BATFE in the story.Sounds like the Sherrif, who is the highest law enforcment officer of the county, and is elected to boot, got a complaint from a neighbor and investigated. There likely is more to the story, for instance, why someone, possibly Spencer, decided to crank off a few rounds in the middle of night. Might be a good reason, might not be.

Glenn Spencer and Sheriff Larry Dever seem to get along OK. I sat with both of them at the head table at a meeting of the South East Arizona Republican Club a couple of months ago and they got along just fine. They have no "official" ties and, until now, Glenn hasn't had any run ins with the law.

I do know that Glenn has had several break-ins on his property and has had expensive equipment stolen. He also has a lot of enemies on the other side of the border. Wasn't it California State Long Beach Professor Armando Navarro who threatened him in June saying that he (the Professor) knew armed people just across the border who don't like Glenn?

According to my sources, Glenn was released on his own recognizance.

[moehoward]

Man this just stinks.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

pingy

[Hacksaw]

Ah, crap! I'll tell you what. I know Spencer and he's alot smart than this. He wouldn't just start shooting randomly. There's got to be more to this story and I'm going to try to run it down.

It smells like a set up to me. We will know for sure if Morris Dees files a lawsuit next.

[Spiff]

American Border Patrol Under Attack

Sierra Vista, Arizona (Aug. 2, 2003) -- Following two straight days of death threats, Wednesday and Thursday, American Border Patrol's (ABP) headquarters near Sierra Vista, Arizona, were invaded by burglars Thursday night or Friday morning. The burglars used bolt cutters to gain access to ABPs equipment yard and entered the residence area through an adjoining gate. Equipment was stolen from both areas. The burglary was reported to Cochise County Sheriffs however no suspects have been identified to ABP to date. ABP estimates loss of equipment at about $6,000.

The two email death threats were forwarded to the FBI on Thursday.

The loss of equipment halted ABP's field operations until replacements can be found.

According to ABP head, Glenn Spencer, the threats follow growing tension in the border area as its program of "lighting up the border" using high technology gathers steam. "We are looking to find a more secure area for our headquarters," Spencer said.

[gubamyster]

ping

[DoughtyOne]

I'm glad to see there was more to this than first brought to light. If Glenn's shots did hit a neighbor's barn, that's not good though. Let's just hope this can be settled without too much turmoil. Glenn is a good guy.

[Missouri]

Thanks for the ping. Sounds like a set-up. Will keep an eye on this story.

[archy]

Sounds like the narcotrafficantes whose business has been interfered with on this side of the border found themselves a *little finger* to do their business for them.

One- or more- with a badge.

[flamefront]

Security! That is the common thread about all this, isn't it?
Be it the border, our lives, out government, or Spencer's HQ.

[Regulator]

You get the prize.

Anyone from Southern Arizona (who's awake) knows that most Mexicans there have ties to the crime families in Sonora. And that includes the people in outfits like Derechos Humanos, who are front groups for the traffickers. One thing they all don't like is some gringo shining a light on their operations. The only thing preventing Glenn from being attacked by them is his celebrity. If he was anyone else this close, and not wearing a federal badge, he would have been face down in an arroyo a long time ago.

So burglaries and vandalism are almost certainly being ordered by the Patrons across the line in Hideous Land. Especially when Spencer gets a little too close to the truth.

He may turn out to have been shooting at coyotes. But having the jitters there is not surprizing, and is usually good policy, considering the people he's going to end up exposing.