NOGALES — Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway is defending his office’s decision to stop responding to calls about people protesting border wall construction near Lochiel, KTAR News reported.
Hathaway’s statement Monday answered an Arizona Sheriffs’ Association letter accusing his office of ignoring repeated requests for help with violence, threats and property damage. He said U.S. Customs and Border Protection made “disingenuous” calls asking deputies to remove peaceful protesters, and that the only violent encounters involved masked federal officers using gas and dragging people away.
“This was clearly a federal issue requiring federal decisions regarding appropriate action,” Hathaway said, noting his office has 45 sworn officers for 1,238 square miles.
Protesters had occupied a cottonwood tree more than 150 years old to block wall construction east of Nogales. Border Patrol agents reportedly arrested at least 20 people and cut down the tree. Hathaway also accused the sheriffs’ association of political bias, noting that he and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, both Democrats, are no longer members.
Sources: KTAR News. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Lorie Shaull / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
