Protesters meet Border Patrol at traffic stop on Tucson's south side

Published: Aug. 11, 2014 at 2:18 AM MST|Updated: Aug. 25, 2014 at 5:42 AM MST
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn
Source: Tucson News Now
Source: Tucson News Now
Source: Tucson News Now
Source: Tucson News Now

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - What started as a simple traffic stop on the south side of Tucson attracted Border Patrol agents and protesters Sunday afternoon.

Officers pulled over a driver near the intersection of 22nd and Columbus for an improper turn at 2:45 p.m., according to Sergeant Chris Widmer with the Tucson Police Department.

He said the driver did not have a valid license, then admitted to officers that he is in the United States illegally.

Widmer said officers followed TPD protocol by contacting Border Patrol. The federal agency sent an unmarked SUV to pick up the driver.

Protesters soon arrived at the scene as well, with two women crawling under the vehicle. The two were pulled out and placed inside the SUV.

The other protesters at the scene said they called each other when they learned about the arrest and involvement of Border Patrol. They consider what happened a violation of the driver's constitutional rights.

Once the driver was turned over to federal agents, Widmer said Border Patrol took over and TPD worked as a support agency.

As of Sunday night, Border Patrol did not have an update on the status of the driver or the two protesters placed inside the SUV.

The group Protection Network Coalition plans to rally outside of TPD headquarters Monday because of the incident.

Copyright 2014 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.