ARIZONA NEWS

2 men arrested for allegedly assaulting border agents in Arizona in separate incidents

May 18, 2023, 11:01 AM | Updated: 11:02 am

Image of Border Patrol truck to illustrate story on assaults on agents in Arizona....

(U.S. Customs and Border Protection Photo)

(U.S. Customs and Border Protection Photo)

PHOENIX – Two men were recently charged with assaulting Border Patrol agents in separate incidents in Arizona, authorities said.

Adbiel Martinez-Barrera, 21, of Mexico faces charges of assault on a federal officer and illegal entry into the United States for the first incident, which occurred May 5 in a remote area near Douglas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona said.

The maximum sentence for assault on a federal officer is eight years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Martinez-Barrera allegedly climbed on an agent’s back and forced the agent’s face into the ground, prosecutors said. The suspect and a woman he was with then ran off but were later apprehended by the Border Patrol.

Prosecutors say Martinez-Barrera entered the country illegally through a port of entry.

On May 8, agents encountered Alfredo Perez-Rodriguez, 18, of Mexico in a group of five people believed to be in the country illegally in the San Pedro River area near the U.S.-Mexico border, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Perez-Rodriguez allegedly got into a fight with an agent who was trying to arrest him and got control of the agent’s taser. Another agent helped subdue the suspect and take him into custody.

Perez-Rodriguez was charged with assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Warehouse retailer Sam's Club is linked to a big parcel within Tempe Marketplace — one of the val...

Ron Davis/Phoenix Business Journal

Warehouse retailer Sam’s Club primed for new location at Tempe Marketplace

Phoenix-based Vestar Development Co. is preparing for a big addition to one of its top Valley shopping centers with a Sam's Club.

24 minutes ago

A U.S. Border Patrol agent instructs immigrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border on Dec. 5, 2023,...

Kevin Stone

Rep. Juan Ciscomani wants Arizona National Guard to provide border support

U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani said he would like to see the National Guard deployed to southern Arizona to help alleviate the strain on border security resources.

1 hour ago

Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy called issues with the Forensic Services Unit ‘problematic’ af...

Nicole Grigg/ABC15 Arizona

Tempe police chief addresses problems with unit that processes crime scenes

Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy called issues with the Forensic Services Unit ‘problematic’ after an internal investigation.

2 hours ago

A view of the Barrio Queen in Gilbert, Arizona. The Mexican restaurant chain opened its eight locat...

KTAR.com

Barrio Queen opens 8th Valley Mexican restaurant in Surprise

The Valley’s eighth Barrio Queen Mexican restaurant opened Wednesday in Surprise and will offer specials throughout December.

3 hours ago

Mega Millions forms are stacked and waiting on players on Aug. 7, 2023, in Silver Spring, Maryland....

KTAR.com

Mega Millions ticket sold at Phoenix grocery store wins $40,000 thanks to Megaplier

A Mega Millions ticket sold at a Phoenix grocery store for Tuesday night’s drawing hit for a $40,000 payout.

4 hours ago

File photo of an Amtrak train. The Arizona Department of Transportation was awarded $500,000 from t...

Kevin Stone

Arizona gets federal funding for Phoenix-Tucson passenger rail planning

The first federal funds have been allocated for reestablishing passenger rail service between Phoenix and Tucson, U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona announced.

5 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

(KTAR News Graphic)...

KTAR launches online holiday auction benefitting Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley

KTAR is teaming up with The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley for a holiday auction benefitting thousands of Valley kids.

...

Dierdre Woodruff

Interest rates may have peaked. Should you buy a CD, high-yield savings account, or a fixed annuity?

Interest rates are the highest they’ve been in decades, and it looks like the Fed has paused hikes. This may be the best time to lock in rates for long-term, low-risk financial products like fixed annuities.

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University: innovating Arizona health care education

Midwestern University’s Glendale Campus near Loop 101 and 59th Avenue is an established leader in health care education and one of Arizona’s largest and most valuable health care resources.

2 men arrested for allegedly assaulting border agents in Arizona in separate incidents