TUCSON, Ariz. – Eliazar Vazquez-Alvaro, 20, of Mexico, was arrested Sunday on one count of Assault on a Federal Officer with the Use of a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon. Vazquez-Alvaro was charged by criminal complaint and had his initial appearance Tuesday before United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline M. Rateau.

On September 11, 2022, near Naco, Arizona, a U.S. Border Patrol agent attempted to conduct an immigration inspection of an individual later identified as Eliazar Vazquez-Alvaro. The agent instructed Vazquez-Alvaro to kneel and place his backpack on the front of his torso. When the agent reached for his handcuffs, Vazquez-Alvaro stood up and swung the approximately 10-pound backpack at the agent’s head. The backpack struck the agent in the face, causing bodily injury to the agent. Vazquez-Alvaro attempted to run but was later apprehended.

A conviction for assault on a federal officer with the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, or both.

A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquel Arellano, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:                   22-08812MJ RELEASE NUMBER:           2022-155_Vazquez-Alvaro

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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