RESULTS of 2nd WAVE OF “OPERATION DESERT SWEEP”

            3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938                  

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar /  PUBLIC AFFAIRS  

Direct: (915) 538-2119

Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)

EMAIL: jtovar@epcounty.com

Release Date / Time: MONDAY ,   JUNE 15, 2009  1:55 PM

SECTION: El Paso County Sheriff's Office – STRIKE TEAM

EVENT:  ”OPERATION DESERT SWEEP”  - 2ND WAVE

LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE:  EL PASO COUNTY, TX

DATE / TIME: JUNE 2009

RESULT:  SEVERAL CITED / ARRESTED

“OPERATION DESERT SWEEP” 2nd WAVE

EL PASO COUNTY, TX- In conjunction with the end of the school year & “GRADUATION WEEK", the Sheriff’s Office Strike Team launched “OPERATION DESERT SWEEP” 2 weeks ago which consists of High Intensity Patrols in desert areas of El Paso County, TX. These areas included the desert area behind the SAC, Red Sands, & other undisclosed locations where recent activity such as shootings, underage drinking parties & other crimes have occurred. The Sheriff’s Office has deemed these desert areas which are frequented by underage party goers as “UNSAFE”. Many of these areas are private properties which have had a significant increase in trespassers & illegal dumping. All underage party goers / graduates are urged avoid these areas as there will be increased patrols.

Among those arrested last week was an individual who was spotted by Strike Team Deputies working “Operation Desert Sweep”, driving a black Ford F-150 pulling a flat trailer with construction material a & dirt / rock mix into the desert area. Deputies commenced a surveillance of the area. The truck then headed west into the desert area near the 600 block of Desert Springs then north into the desert.  Strike Team Units converged in the area and began to search the desert area for the truck.  Deputies located the truck 0.7 miles north of the location which had backed up into a dirt road.  Deputies observed a male subject standing in the trailer shoveling debris from the trailer into the desert.  Deputies approached the vehicle and subject who was identified as ERNESTO MARQUEZ (26) of the 700 block of Desert Mist Horizon City, TX.  He was charged and arrested for ILLEGAL DUMPING Over 5 lbs. Under 500 lbs.          

“OPERATION DESERT SWEEP” was launched 2 weeks ago.

“It’s apparent that even after Law Enforcement advisories, individuals continue to trespass on these private properties- enforcement in these areas will continue in the future”-said Deputy Jesse Tovar EPCSO PIO

Below are the results of the 2nd wave of the operation: 

ARRESTS MADE IN DESERT AREAS:

ERNESTO MARQUEZ (26) of the 700 block of Desert Mist Horizon City, TX CHARGE: ILLEGAL DUMPING >5lbs.<500lbs.-$300 BOND	VICTOR MACHADO (19) of the 600 block of Poona Socorro, TX  CHARGE: FAILURE TO ATTEND SCHOOL (WARRANT)-$460 CASH FINE	JESSE MIRANDA (26) of the 12000 block of Van Gogh El Paso, TX CHARGE: VIOLATION OF A PROTECTIVE ORDER (WARRANT)- $2,500 BOND	ALEJANDRO ACOSTA (18) of the 900 block of Valle Romero El Paso, TX CHARGE: POSSESSION OF TOBACCO PRODUCT BY MINOR (WARRANT)- $321.70 CASH FINE   FAILURE TO APPEAR- $214.00 CASH FINE
MARCELINO RUIZ (34) of the 200 block of Crosby El Paso, TX CHARGE: TERRORISTIC THREAT (WARRANT) $500.00 BOND	ROBERT MARTINEZ (19) of the 1600 block of Chelsea El Paso, TX CHARGE: POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA - $300 BOND	EDER RENE ROMERO (17) of the 3700 block of Lee El Paso, TX CHARGE: POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA - $300 BOND	ADRIAN PENALOZA (25) of the 11700 block of John Polley El Paso, TX CHARGE: POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA - $300 BOND

(NOTE: INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED / SHOWN ABOVE ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW) 

   End of News Release

  The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4^th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.