LOS ANGELES (YBH) - Pinal County, fifty miles south of Phoenix and almost to Mexico, is one of many “smugglers’ alleys”, and the site of the latest casualty in the border war, wounded Deputy Louie Puroll. During a traffic stop, Puroll was shot in the stomach by a smuggler’s bullet Friday, and today it was announced a sweep by nearly 200 officers searching by air and on foot netted 17 illegal border crossers, 3 of whom matched Puroll’s description of his attackers.
This latest incident “should show the rest of the country what we Arizonans have known for too long — the unsecured border poses a very real and very immediate danger,” noted U.S. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (D). Her district encompasses part of Pinal County. Her words rang true to the searchers, as The Arizona Republic newspaper reported one of the search choppers was fired upon.
The remote desert area is full of armed illegals and safe houses where drugs and human cargo are stashed. Deputy Puroll had been patrolling for smugglers when he was attacked. As he tracked them, the smugglers abandoned 30 pounds of marijuana they were carrying.
Beloved by many, reviled by others, Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio has said the Mexican drug war is all but destined to come to the U.S. without strict border controls. “I think this is one incident that proves that it’s going to happen in the future” Arpaio said in a recent interview.
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Laura Glendinning article archive.

