Four Cuban Coast Guardsman defect in Key West, Fla.; still in uniform, they approach an officer

AP | 2/07/03 | TERRY SPENCER

[kattracks]

By TERRY SPENCER
The Associated Press
2/7/03 8:56 AM

MIAMI (AP) -- Four Cuban coast guardsman defected Friday, docking their patrol boat at a Key West resort, walking into town and surrendering to a police officer, authorities said.

The men, dressed in their military uniforms, approached Officer Matt Dorgan at about 4 a.m. and told him they wanted to surrender, Key West police spokeswoman Cynthia Edwards said. One man had a Chinese handgun holstered to his side, which he allowed Dorgan to take.

Officers searching their boat docked at the Hyatt Marina Resort found two loaded AK-47 machine guns along with ammunition. The boat was still flying a Cuban flag.

"They were happy to be here and were compliant with all of our requests," said Officer Tara Koenig, a Spanish-speaking officer Dorgan called for assistance.

She said the men told her they had been on patrol about 1 a.m. when they decided to defect.

"My impression is that it was a last-minute decision," Koenig said. "They were patrolling, talking about living at the poverty line when they said 'You know what, the United States is only 90 miles that way.' So they set the heading on their boat, terminated communication with Cuba and headed straight here."

Edwards said the men were taken to the Monroe County jail, where they will be turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. An INS spokesman did not immediately return a call Friday.

Cubans who make it to U.S. soil are usually allowed to remain in the country, while those intercepted at sea are generally returned to Cuba.

The men's patrol boat has been turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard. A Coast Guard spokeswoman had no immediate comment and it could not be determined if the U.S. military had been tracking the men before they arrived at Key West.

No one answered the phone at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington on Friday morning.

[lsee]

So, does this mean the Cuban Coast Guard will now be flooded with job applicants?

[eyespysomething]

I'm glad I live in a country which people look to when their own government sucks.

How many people try to defect to France?

But then my paranoid side says "spies?"

[dep]

not to be paranoid or anything, but i think i'd want to quarantine these guys and their boat for awhile, and then have it swabbed from top to bottom for any little microbes they might have brought along for the ride.

dep

[SouthernFreebird]

How they'd make it to shore so easy......whos watching the seas.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

No one answered the phone at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington on Friday morning.

It snowed 6 - 9" over night here. Therefore, all govt. employees are given the day off, paid, at tax payer expense, of course...

[Nebr FAL owner]

It now appears that the Cuban govt. will have to stick a political officer on every vessel of the Cuban military & fishing fleets or even anything bigger than a inner tube from now on to keep people from defecting.When Fidel finally goes Tango Uniform the folks of the Cuban American community in southern Florida are gonna invade that island with investment money as well as journalists camcorders etc etc etc .Should prove to be interesting rubbing the noses of the closet communists=Democrats in the SH*T that is exposed . =8^)

[billorites]

"How many people try to defect to France?"

It's been a rough winter in New England. I wouldn't mind defecting to Southern France for a month or so right now.

I could be an ambassador of goodwill or something...

[stationkeeper]

WELCOME TO FREEDOM, GENTLEMEN!!

[freeper12]

>>How they'd make it to shore so easy......whos watching the seas.


Bingo, so despite the extra several hundred billion dollars in wasted security spending that has taken place since 9/11, we are no safer than before...just poorer...anyone who wants to can still simply walk/drive/boat into this country wiothout a problem.

But of course we will continue to terrorize and strip search 90 year old people at the airports...all in the name of national security.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Thats a very nice dock at the edge of Mallory Square - they run the ferries to Sunset Key from there. There's a nice Cuban restaurant about 100 yards from that spot, and the Mel Fisher museum is within a stone's throw.

Must have been a hell of a sight for the tourists.

[borkrules]

...anyone who wants to can still simply walk/drive/boat into this country wiothout a problem.

I agree. That is a problem. Couple of vials of VX or another toxin, or worse, and S. Florida has a really, really, bad day.

[scooby321]

Liberals Still Love Castro

While his people escape at any chance they have

[eyespysomething]

C'mon down here to Georgia, or even go to Florida. ALthough we've had a few freezing cold days, last Sunday it was 65 and sunny!

But the south of France?

Hmmm, I guess it wouldn't be too bad.
Good will? How about the Ambassador of Common Sense?

[eyespysomething]

He didn't defect, he ran like the chicken s*&$ he is.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think you're on to something.

[Hatteras]

I found this photo showing a Cuban gunboat:

That's a pretty big target slipping under the radar screen...

[TLBSHOW]

I see America freeing Cuba after North Korea!!!

Commies beware we are coming for you!