Border Patrol agent assaulted during routine stop

A border patrol agent was assaulted recently by a suspected illegal immigrant, according to Lt. Robert Haley, commander of the Fallbrook Sheriff’s substation.

At approximately 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, July 17, the agent pulled over a vehicle near the intersection of East Mission Road and Interstate 15 when the suspect got out of the vehicle and battered the agent.

“[The suspect] fled into a large nursery nearby,” said Haley. “A call for assistance from ASTREA [Sheriff’s helicopter] was made, and deputies and K-9 handlers set up a perimeter. ASTREA was able to respond in under a minute because it w...