On the night of April 14, 2005, Deputy Sheriff Hernandez was on routine patrol. In the stillness of the vast desert night, a speeding Surburban ran through a red light, and Deputy Hernandez stopped the vehicle. Investigators say that, as he walked to the driver's side, the vehicle peeled away, almost running over his foot. The lawman fired several shots -- one of which blew out the rear tire, just like in the movies.
The vehicle stopped, and eight or nine illegal immigrants jumped out and took off running into the sagebrush. According to reports, one illegal immigrant, a woman named Marcela Rodriguez Garcia, remained in the back seat of the car. She was hit by one of the bullets, and it shattered some of her teeth. She was treated at the hospital, and was released to the care of her husband. Deputy Hernandez reported the incident to his supervisors, who -- according to procedure -- called the state to investigate.
But within days, the federal government was investigating too.
The Mexican consulate had sent a letter to local and federal law enforcement officials in Texas demanding a full investigation... |