[CitaDeL]

http://m.nogalesinternational.com/ar...a833224039.txt

Border Patrol agent shot, wounded in canyon

By Manuel C. Coppola
A Border Patrol agent was shot in the ankle at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the Ramanote Canyon area west of Rio Rico.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s officials said the agency requested assistance after the victim suffered a wound to his ankle and was taken by helicopter to University Medical Center in Tucson.

BP spokesman Omar Candelaria told The Associated Press that lawmen were searching for several assailants.

Sheriff Antonio Estrada said the incident began when a camera mounted on a BP vehicle picked up a “backpacker” in the area. Two agents attempted to intercept the suspected drug smuggler near Forest Service Road 4191.

“This is extremely rough terrain and so the agents were on foot attempting to intercept the subject,” Estrada said. “I don’t know if it was someone protecting a load (of drugs) but one agent was shot in the ankle by what is believed was a long rifle.”

A single gunshot was fired from an unknown location and struck the agent in the left ankle. The shot came from an unknown direction so agents could not return fire.

Sheriff’s deputies, along with United States Border Patrol B.O.R.T.A.C team and Blackhawk helicopters surrounded the area to search for the suspect and remove the agent.

“He was taken by horseback to a clearing to meet up with the helicopter,” Estrada said.

An extensive search was conducted for the suspect or suspects to no avail, officials said.

Ramanote Canyon is 5.8 miles north of the international border.

The case was referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.