US

US Border Official Reportedly Pulls Gun On Boy Scout [UPDATED]

Hayley Hoefer Contributor
Font Size:

A Boy Scout troop leader claims a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent recently pulled a gun on a central Iowa Boy Scout troop that was trying to cross from Canada into Alaska.

Boy Scout Troop 111 Leader Jim Fox told KCCI-TV Monday that the incident occurred after one Scout attempted to take a picture of a border official.

The angry photographed official lectured the Scout for his action, explaining that taking a picture of a federal agent is a federal offense.

“The agent immediately confiscated his camera, informed him he would be arrested, fined possibly $10,000 and 10 years in prison,” Fox said.

The agents then detained the troop’s entire van. The situation quickly turned even tenser when another Scout began to take his luggage from the top of the car so that the agents could search it.

“He hears a snap of a holster, turns around, and here’s this agent, both hands on a loaded pistol, pointing at the young man’s head,” Fox explained.

Ultimately, no one was hurt or arrested during the search, and after a delay of nearly four hours, Troop 111 recommenced its three-week journey through Canada and Alaska.

Fox nonetheless expressed his outrage that American Boy Scouts could have such an encounter with U.S. Customs and Border Protection when there are immigrants streaming across the southern border.

UPDATE:

Responding to the controversy surrounding the incident, the CPB released its own statement, in which it called into question the troop leader’s claims, to KCCI on Wednesday.

“CBP’s review of this group’s inspection, including video footage review, indicates that our officer did not un-holster or handle his weapon as stated in the allegation. The review revealed nothing out of the ordinary. We have reached out to the Boy Scout troop for additional information in reference to the allegation. The video footage has been referred to CBP Internal Affairs for further review.”

Follow Hayley on Twitter