El Paso,TX

Yesterday afternoon in downtown El Paso a reckless driver caused a huge ruckus. Officers observed an oldsmobile alero hit a white minivan so hard that it tipped over onto its roof. Then the oldsmobile proceeded to drive off without any regard for the accident that he had just caused.

Of course the police pursued the reckless driver all around downtown. The driver continued to drive recklessly running through stop signs and putting other drivers in danger. Fortunately the cars engine died on Eighth st. The driver was arrested and is now facing felony charges. It was reported that he was intoxicated at the time and has had prior drinking and driving convictions.

The family of two adults and one child were rushed to Del Sol Medical Center with minor injuries.

On Thursday afternoon in Northeast El Paso 53 year old Jaime Gonzalez had stabbed his father over and over again during an argument as they were riding in the car. Shortly after the stabbing of 75 year old Antonio Gonzalez, Jaime was detained by the police.

His jail records show that he was charged with aggravated assault of family violence. Gonzalez is in lieu of a $50,000 bond and is now being held at the El Paso County Jail.

The wounds of his father are not established to be life-threatening but are very severe.

News, El Paso, Violence

El Paso county sheriffs went out on wednesday night, to do undercover shops on local convenient stores. They were trying to see how many would actually sell tobacco to a minor and not ask for I.D. They shopped 56 stores and 13 sold tobacco without asking for I.D. This offense is a class c misdemeanor. The stores can be fined up to $500. El Paso county is trying to crack down on the sell of tobacco to minors.

It is a good thing that the county is using tax money in a good manner. I believe that the enforcement of not selling tobacco to minors is a good idea. Maybe now that these stores see the county is getting more involved they will take their jobs more seriously.

Many convenient store clerks do enforce carding at all times. I know personally that I have went into stores where they will not card me. I usually am shocked when I don’t get carded because I know that I don’t look over thirty which means they should card me. On the other hand there are some clerks that just act stupid and card me everyday when I come into the store. I really feel that is stupid. Honestly, is there anyway that I could have grown down in age day by day. That kind of treatment by a customer will potentially make someone stop shopping there.

Carding is great. Everyone should do it, but don’t get carried away because that is when you may possibly lose business.

el paso, cigaretts, tobacco,

Today, July 6 2007 Betti Flores pleaded guilty in a conspiracy to defraud El Paso county. Shocking isn’t it! She committed mail and wire fraud. Betti Flores served on commissioners court from January 2003 until January of this year, after being investigated.

The US Attorney’s Office filed charges of four counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and the deprivation of honest services. Two charges were filed for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and deprivation of honest services. 17 people were also implicated which incluede many business associates and county officials in bribery and other illegal activities.

Betti Flores is facing up to 20 years in a federal prison and up to 250,000 dollar fine for each count.

It is very shocking what someone you trust can be doing behind your back. The city of El Paso has to be in shock to find out such dishonest activity has been going on among their elected officials. I just hope that everyone who is involved in this scheme will be punished accordingly. Fortunately an end has come to this disgraceful behavior.

betti flores, el paso, el paso county,

Unfortunately drug smuggling is on the rise in El Paso. Fortunately the U.S Customs and Border Protection is doing a great job. Last week they seized over 3,640 pounds of marijuana, in 33 drug seizures. Reportedly on June 25, 2007 365 pounds of marijuana was found inside of 312 bricks being transported on a truck through the Juarez and El Paso border. The driver was not detained because of lack of knowledge of the presence of marijuana. Drug smuggling has always been a problem in El Paso because of it’s connection with the border city of Juarez, Mexico.
The U.S Customs and Border Protection Agents are really cracking down on commuters from Juarez to El Paso. Some foods and fruits are prohibited from entering the U.S from Mexico, because they may carry pests and different diseases. Last week a Dedicated Commuter Lane user was fined 500 dollars for trying to bring over three peaches from Mexico. She also had her Dedicated Commuter Lane pass revoked.

To me it seems that Drug Smuggling is going to be a serious problem across the United States for a really long time. Hopefully agents at every border post are taking their jobs seriously.

smuggling, drug smuggling, border patrol, U.S. Customs