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Panga boat driver kills Coast Guard officer

December 3, 2012

A panga boat suspected to be used for smuggling drugs rammed into a Coast Guard boat early Sunday morning, killing an officer off the coast of Santa Barbara County. [Noozhawk]

The Coast Guard spotted the panga boat around 1 a.m. near Santa Cruz Island in the Santa Barbara Channel and dispatched the Cutter Halibut to investigate it. A small boat then launched from the Cutter and approached the panga, Coast Guard spokesman Adam Eggers told Noozhawk.

“When the Coast Guard small boat approached with its blue law enforcement light energized, the suspect vessel, identified a profile Mexican-style panga, maneuvered at a high rate of speed directly toward the Coast Guard small boat and struck it before fleeing the scene,” Eggers said.

The collision threw two crew members into the water, causing a traumatic head injury to one. The small Coast Guard boat recovered both of the crew members, but at about 2:20 a.m. doctors declared Chief Petty Officer Terrel Horne III, 34, dead. The other crewman sustained minor injuries.

Other guardsmen stopped the fleeing panga and detained two suspects.

ABC News reported that that the Coast Guard detained two additional suspects from a pleasure craft it intercepted along with the panga. The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s SWAT Team and the U.S. Border Patrol are searching for yet another two suspects, whom they believe the suspected smugglers dropped off on Santa Cruz Island.

The incident remains under investigation, and law enforcement has not released the names of the suspects. The cause of Horne’s death is expected to be released Monday.

Several panga boats suspected of smuggling drugs from Mexico have reached the shores of San Luis Obispo County in recent months. One panga boat beached near San Simeon last week, leading to multiple arrests.


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We should absolutely legalize it and tax it, and the panga boats will only get more aggressive until we do.


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While not opposed to the legalization, it is foolish to think that the mexican drug cartel will just lay down. They are criminals they will get what they feel is their cut of the drug trade no matter how they have to do it. They will steal from, kill and intimidate the legal suppliers. Back in business.


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The very nature of a product being “illegal” is what brings about all the associated crime because there is no law enforcement to serve either side. If wine grapes (a highly valued commodity) were illegal, we would have the same problem that we have with marijuana. Wine grapes are legal and there are no cartels, stealing, killing or intimidating suppliers. It’s all in your head because the “gubmint” have labeled marijuana as a drug. Alcohol is drug too, when it was legalized, all the violent crime surrounding it STOPPED immediately.


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Wine grapes were once illegal- during the prohibition and one of the most violent periods of our Country’s history. Wineries were forced to rip a lot of the vines out during that time.


Marijuana is no more a “drug” than tobacco or alcohol, why it’s illegal is totally beyond me. It is in fact an herb that is medicinal and is proven to be medicinal.


The panga boats are aggressive because they have an opportunity to be. We cannot buy or produce marijuana locally and the source must come from somewhere. As in supply and demand, when the supply decreases, the demand becomes higher.


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Cindy, I totally agree with your comment.


I would like to add that the voters of California voted to okay the use of marijuana for medical reasons, yet the federal government continues to waste taxpayer dollars on fighting Californians’ right to access marijuana even though it is legal in our state.


Now, to make it worse, California has obviously had an escalating problem with the panga-boat method of illegal importation of marijuana into California, but has our federal government done anything about it? NO.


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it is foolish to think that the mexican drug cartel will just lay down.

———————-

Not really ordinary. It’s not a matter of choice it’s a matter of a market drying up. In the same way that the mafia had to get out of illegal liquor when it became legal, the drug cartels will have to get out of drug selling. There just wouldn’t be any profit in it.


As it stands, it’s an impossible situation. The more we police it, the less supply there is which drives up prices which provides more incentive to get in the illegal trade.


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I think our folks should have procedures for this sort of thing… to protect our people.


Obviously not.


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Every time they catch these foriegn criminals I hope they work them over real good on the way to prison


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You guys are so far off. Who cares what kind of drugs they are running. They are criminals and murderers. If you or I (white ordinary citizen) killed someone we would be prosecuted to the fullest. If you or I (white ordinary citizen) had 30 gas cans in the water or on the beach, every agency known to man would be filing charges.


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U.S. ROE should be S&S (Shoot & Sink).


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My condolences to the family, friends, guardsman and all who loved Chief Petty Officer Terrel Horne III. This is such a tragedy.


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RIP Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne III


Cartel smuggling, it’s getting worse. Any citizen could be at risk of harm, land or sea, if in the right place at the wrong time, no fault of their own. This scourge is creeping north both on land and sea. No doubt this death will cause a protocol update in CA waters. Those that will kill for profit are proliferating.


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When are everyone of these drug cartel members going to be treated like the criminals that they are?


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Sounds like things are getting serious. I wonder what kind of drugs they’re smuggling? California, Oregon and Canada grow the best marijuana by far and no one wants Mexican so if it’s about Marijuana it must be because the raids have caused a shortage. Legalize Marijuana and tax it.


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Many kinds of drugs are coming up. Whatever sells. Cartel has become more serious about making money off of human trafficking too.


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Cindy,


The godly and obvious question has to be asked, how do YOU know the best Mary-Jane is grown on the West Coast, and that no one wants Mexican MJ? Huh?


To use your MO on prevous threads, I am just going to assume that you are a toker! Remember dear what the bible says about our God’s creation that use drugs!


We “have been bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, even though he came back in three days, nonetheless, your body is the temple of “our” God and you should not pollute it. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).


Furthermore, sobriety, instead of being stones, is also important for prayer (1 Peter 4:7), as is obedience to God (Isaiah 1:10-17).


Jesus hates pseudo-christians. :(


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“Jesus hates pseudo-christians. :(”


I was taught Jesus hated no one. But I certainly am no expert on the topic.


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Jack L,


No, you and many others are not experts relative to TRUE Christianity.


“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1Timothy 3:16)


In this godly passage above, to whom is it talking about? Correct, JESUS! Therefore, Jesus is God. 2+2=4, oil and water don’t mix, pseudo-christians are going to Hell, and true Christians are not.


Since many “divisions” of Christianity believe that Jesus is God (Trinity), then Jesus, as God, HATES the following six entities;


“These six things doth the Lord HATE: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)


Get it?


You’re welcome.


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Ted, You assume wrong, I am not a “toker”. It makes me tired and I laugh at everything when I’m stoned, I can’ even order spaghetti without falling on the floor laughing. I did have a medical condition back in 2001 where I used it for several weeks (with a prescription) until the condition corrected itself. Happy to say, it worked and I never needed it again but it was pretty funny during the time that I used it. I do know many people who use it and they are very peaceful, intelligent, hard working contributors to society. No they don’t laugh at everything like I used to because they’ve built up a tolerance. I have nothing against marijuana, I support it fully and I am living proof that it doesn’t lead to other drugs.


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Cindy,


You have nothing against Mary-Jane and you call yourself a Christian?!


What part of the godly passages that I’ve included that are AGAINST using any type of mind altering drugs don’t you understand?! Again, you take the ungodly position of knowing more than the God that you “allegedly” worship.


Cindy, once again you went against the Hebrew/Christian God’s words when you became weak and violated the above passages in question. “Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41 )


I will pray for you once again in my nightly prayers. You can thank me later.


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Cool. Remember that the next time you eat fast food, pop an aspirin for pain control, and breathe the air in Los Angeles.


Hypocrisy is the reason why organized religion turns me off. God and Jesus, as we are preached (except when it suits the debate of a religious person) loved everyone, and did not judge. We were all God’s children. I’m not sure I could find a passage in the bible where Jesus hates anyone……


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slocal,


See the godly introduced proof that Jesus hated certain people that exhibited certain traits above when Brother Ted answered Jack L.


Again, you’re welcome.


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Hmmm this is the same Jesus that forgave his executioners right?


Hate is a strong word in Jesus speak. I hardly doubt that Jesus hates pot smokers. Hemp was one of the first crop to be farmed by humans, even before hops and wheat. Cannabis was used in 12 ways: as clothing, paper, cords, sails, fishnets, oil, sealant, incense, food, and in ceremony, relaxation and medicine.


The Guardian has also noted through scientific study that Jesus used cannabis in many different ways: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/jan/06/science.religion


Put that in your religion pipe and smoke it. (you’re welcome).


My condolences go out to the family, friends, and most importantly children of the deceased.


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slocal,


“Hmmm this is the same Jesus that forgave his executioners right?”


Yep! Two mutually exclusive concepts. But, you knew that already.


The rest of your Satanic diatribe is all conjecture and assumptions! Are you taking lessons from Cindy?


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My satantic diatribe?


Oh. You’re just bat shit crazy. I get it now. Debate is totally lost on you.


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Ted Slanders: just bat shit crazy.


Must be the fumes


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My prayers to the family. It is a tragedy. it is also a tragedy that people swing religion around others as if it was a penis. Please do not. It is ok yo be proud of it, just dont swing it around unless it asked of you.


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