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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

U.S. Soldier Arrested in Mexico With Weapons in Car


Associated Press
      EL PASO — A U.S. soldier has been arrested and jailed in Mexico after authorities found guns in his car.
    Spc. Richard R. Medina was arrested Monday after being stopped by Mexican federal authorities in Ciudad Juarez, a violence-plagued city across the Rio Grande from El Paso.
    According to television reports of his arrest, Medina had an AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun in his car. Video footage of Medina in custody also showed several ammunition clips for the rifle, which had a scope and was in a case.
    Army officials at Fort Bliss, just outside El Paso, said Medina was on leave from his post at Fort Hood and was traveling through El Paso en route to California. Medina told U.S. Consulate officials that he made a wrong turn and inadvertently entered Ciudad Juarez, Fort Bliss spokeswoman Jean Offutt told the El Paso Times for Tuesday's edition.
    Several signs along roads leading to the border are clearly marked and include warnings against taking guns or ammunition into Mexico.
    According to Mexican law, Medina could face up to 15 years in prison for illegally bringing the weapons into the country.
    Ciudad Juarez has been gripped by violence in the last several months as dueling cartels have apparently been in a bloody battle for control.
    In the last several weeks, Mexican federal agents and soldiers have been posted in the city in an attempt to quell the violence.

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