TexasCHLforum.com

A suspect who fled an interdiction checkpoint died following an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officers.
James Hughes, a 38 year old man from Orange County, received multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed by ambulance to a Beaumont hospital, where he was prounounced dead at about 1 p.m. Wednesday.
An interdiction checkpoint was set up Wednesday morning off I-10 near Brooks Road. KFDM News was doing a story on the checkpoint at about noon, when Hughes, driving a purple truck fled the checkpoint and drove away.
Police say Hughes stopped and fired shots through a sliding glass window on his pickup truck at Beaumont police officers and sheriff's deputies. The officers returned fire.
The man sped away down Fannett Road and Tyrrell Park Road. He drove to a home in the 5200 block of Tyrrell Park Road where he pointed an AR-15 rifle through the driver's window and began firing rapidly. Two Beaumont police officers and a sheriff's deputy shot at Hughes in the truck.
Hughes fell from the truck to the ground.
Several people witnessed the exchange of gunfire, and at least one bullet went through a man's truck parked outside his driveway on Tyrrell Park Road.
In addition to the AR-15 police found a .308 Cal. rifle with a bayonet attached, a .30 Cal. rifle, three revolvers and a .357 semi-automatic handgun. All were loaded.
ATF agents found ammunition in the duffel bags, as well as military pharphernalia including maps, meals-ready-to eat, and clothing.
Hughes was wearing camouflage clothing.
No officers were hurt in the chase and exchange of gunfire. All three officers will be placed on administrative leave with pay while the incident is under investigation.


http://www.kfdm1.com/engine.pl?station= ... local.html

HOOOOOOORAY for Beaumont PD !
:D

Not that I am wanting to appear to be a pain about this...I just have one question...

What "is" and "why" was an "interdiction checkpoint" setup there, and at that time of day???"

I have more questions, but thats the first thing I am a bit concerned about...

I agree as well, good job guys...

What were they "interdicting" at this "checkpoint"?

It would seem as if this person had something to hide or maybe he was a nut job. I wasn't there and don't know the person so it's all speculation.

The reporter sure did a nice job making it sound as if you have guns, wear camo, have maps, and MREs then your a nut job with something to hide.

Like stevie, there are more question.

If we ever set up check-points they have to be in a racially diverse area, or if it is not in a diverse area, we have to have the next one in a different area of a different make-up. We vary the time of day as well.

This could be the case with Beaumont as well.

Glenn

More info:

http://www.kbtv4.tv/news/default.asp?mo ... ws&id=9321

http://www.orangeleader.com/articles/20 ... /news2.txt

http://www.familybadge.org/index.cfm/ac ... /11275.htm

"Doctor Rules on Cause of Death

Jefferson County’s Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Brown, has confirmed the preliminary cause of death for Hughes was suicide. Brown says Hughes died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Brown noted Hughes’ body did sustain other non-fatal gunshot wounds. Police are not sure how many gunshot wounds Hughes sustained as the complete autopsy investigation has not been concluded."

http://www.kbtv4.tv/news/default.asp?mo ... ws&id=9326

Of course it is a bit suspicious to evade a "narcotics checkpoint" in the manner to which the deceased did...

I'm still scratching my head on the whole interdiction checkpoint deal...

I've heard and seen the DWI checkpoints before...But never one set up to randomly interdict drug traffic-kers...

I can imagine how I'd set something like that up, but I don't think I'd be on the job too long with those methods...

Can't profile, nor can you have any pre-conceived opinion on what a drug traffic-ker looks like...

So again, how effective is this system of interdiction, if you don't base it on tangible intelligence or profiling???

I'm just curious, I am not and have never been into drugs at all in my life...I have a pretty good idea what is involved from observing others who are effected by this problem...So how does a checkpoint like this work???

Does everyone get stopped momentarily to be questioned??? Or is it one where they sit on the side of the road, and go, "Lets go get that guy in the black Navigator with the chrome rims..."

I think the bottom line to the story here is that they got lucky and landed a guy who obviously had a few issues...And not for the reason they were out there in the first place...

Honestly, I am not being sarcastic or trying to be a pain to anyone in particular, but I think this could be a good thing to learn something from...

If I roll up on one of these, it sure would be in my best interest to follow the law and inform them of my licensed status...Anything after that would require a warrant...I respectfully decline to concent to search, and at that time I would ask if I can go...Its a hard thing to do for everyone involved, but I can take the ride better than some others...

I dunno, maybe this just hit my rebellious side a bit hard this morning...

I'll be better a little later today...

Actually profiling is allowed when doing drug interdiction. The liberal media has made "profiling" such a big issue that we all think "racial profiling". "Racial profiling" is illegal, "profiling" is not.

There are and number things that the DEA has listed in doing studies for officers to look for. For obvious reasons, I am not going to detail them here. These interdiction sites are great for allowing LE to talk to more people to look for those things. Some check points are set up to stop say every third car or every fifth car, whatever. It has to be consistent though.

I have always been big in my freedoms and those of others. I will also say that I will consent to a search if I have nothing to hide. It allows me to get down the road quicker if I consent, plus it spends less of the officer's time on me and let's him find the bad guys and spend time with them.

For guys who say they don't consent because of "principle", duly noted on your stance, but who are you really hurting by trying to prove a point? Us, that's who.

Glenn

I have seen those LEO on I-10 when I drive through to LA. Black Crown Vics with blacked out windows, K-9 units, the works. They lie in wait for their prey. I have wondered where the silenced black helicopters were!

I-10 is/was a huge drug route. I believe the I-35 route is worse, from the sound of the MS-13 gang and all.

Better pack large when driving the I-ways.

Just so you know:
I DISPISE CONCENTUAL SEARCHES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Among other things I think the cheapen the value of the 4th amendment


The war on some drugs is really "The War on the Bill of Rights."

"if I have nothing to hide"
How do you know you don't have something to hide?
Becuase of your status as a Law Enforcement Officer, you may have a mental list of "All" the laws that this agency is currently enforcing.
I don't have that list.


As to saving some officers time, If they weren't out there doing these unreasonable searches they would save even more time.

So, who do you mean by "Us"?
Law Enforcement Officers or citizens of the United States?

If a search is concentual, then it in no way cheapens the 4th Amd.

Tom, honestly, if you don't know if you have nothing to hide or not, then you need to evalutate who you let into your car. There is no mental list as to what my dept is enforcing at the time, it is a written list. Most of it is found in the Penal Code, but some may be found in the Health and Safety Code, Alcoholic Beverage Code, or sometimes the Texas Transportation Code. You can count on all of those laws being enforced. It is the individual officer and their discrection that sometimes people slide on.

Citizens are the one's that suffer in the long run when it comes to get warrants, PC, and or K9's in order to look in a car that has nothing that the driver could have consented to in the first place.

Just because you do not want to let an officer to take a quick look in your car, does not mean you get to just drive away. I think many people think if you say "no", then you get to go on down the road. You can be detained for a reasonable amount of time in order to call for a K9 to do a walk around.

Honestly, how many here have ever had an officer ask to search your car? Before I was an LEO, I was pulled over many times (over 10) and never once did an officer, trooper, deputy, etc, ever ask to look in my veh.

This is not a personal thing, but it just amazes me that there are so many here that are so leery of law enforcement. Like there is this great conspiracy out there to haul Honest John Q Citizen off to jail.

We all sit here and type "God forbid" anytime we write about the possibility of shooting someone, yet we want to hinder those who are able to get the killers, robbers, rapist, etc..., off the street by tying them up on proving a point. :?

If we weren't out doing these "unreasonable" searches, then tons, no exageration here, of marijuan, meth, cocaine, and pills would go right down I-10. I could sit in my car all day with my thumb stuck up my butt doing nothing to find the root of most our crimes (drugs) and make some happy, but others would complain about those "lazy cops."

Sometimes we don't have a choice in special assigments like this either, but it is called a job, and I do it to feed my family and buy my toys. I sure there are things that you do at your job that you may not want to do, but you do it any way.

I will stop here before I get really spooled up.

Glenn

Baytown wrote:For guys who say they don't consent because of "principle", duly noted on your stance, but who are you really hurting by trying to prove a point? Us, that's who.

Glenn

I understand your position, and I think it has merit...

My refusal to consent to a search is not a "personal disagreement" with the officer requesting that consent...

If I know I have nothing to hide, and I may even state as such to that officer...

I know there is nothing to search for...

I really wish I could find a middle ground here with Law Enforcement, or outright cave-in on my principles...Those priciples are not based on a rebellious agenda against Law Enforcement...

Principles are meant for face to face conversation, and I sure would enjoy giving you my take on this issue...Its just to much to describe and annotate here...

Besides everyone knows I type long and hard on things anyway...

I do see where you are coming from, and I am sure that if we talked about this it would beneficial to all involved...

I think a FTF at Luna's after CHL Range Day would do wonders on this issue. Maybe I'll put my gun in the car and have a couple of margaritas.

For those of you familiar with Cheers, you may remember Cliff's theory (to Norm) on how and why alcohol makes you smarter.

Glenn

BTW, I hope none take this as a personal slam, it is not. I just differ in opinions with some on this issue. (it is not because i am a cop)

Glenn

Baytown wrote:I will stop here before I get really spooled up.

Glenn

Don't do that...I'm not worth getting spooled up over...