Customs Inspector Slugged Alien, Agents Testify

A U.S. Customs inspector punched an illegal alien whose hands were handcuffed behind his back, several federal officers testified Thursday at the beginning of the inspector’s trial in U.S. District Court.

William Grimes, 41, a 12-year Customs veteran, is charged with a misdemeanor count of violating the civil rights of Jamie Gonzalez last Oct. 27. Gonzalez was detained by federal agents after he allegedly entered the United States illegally at the San Ysdiro border crossing while being chased by Mexican police.

Each of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and Customs officers who testified Thursday said the victim never exchanged words with Grimes, whom they said acted without provocation. The incident occurred in a second-floor office in the government building that straddles Interstate 5 at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Arthur Roy said that he and a fellow INS agent had apprehended Gonzalez as he ran on the pedestrian walkway above the highway.

Roy testified that they placed handcuffs on Gonzalez and were escorting him into the building when Grimes approached, cursed at Gonzalez and punched him in the chest.

Roy said that Grimes swore at Gonzalez and told him: “When I tell you to stop, you stop. . . .

“The man then doubled over from a hard punch. I was shocked. I didn’t expect it.”

But under questioning by Grimes’ attorney, John Mitchell, Roy admitted that he did not see Grimes throw the punch--but that he heard it land with a loud thud.

Richard Armstrong, an internal affairs investigator for the Customs Service, testified that Grimes admitted striking Gonzalez “because Mr. Gonzalez sneered at him.”

In his opening statement, Mitchell did not deny that Grimes made physical contact with Gonzalez, saying Grimes pushed the man but did not strike him. Mitchell told the jury that the handcuffed Gonzalez was walking toward Grimes when Grimes ordered the man in Spanish to stop and shoved Gonzalez back with an open hand to the chest.

Mitchell said that Grimes merely wanted to “keep the individual off him” because Grimes was armed and was concerned that the handcuffed Gonzalez might try to take his gun away.

However, Ignacio Bustos, a Customs inspector, testified that he saw Grimes cock his arm and punch Gonzalez.

“He cocked his arm back. . . . He decked the individual right in the center (of the chest) with a closed fist. It was a hard blow. . . . There was no reason to hit him,” Bustos said.

Bustos’ account of the incident differed from Roy’s. Roy testified that Grimes cursed Gonzalez in English, but Bustos said that Grimes talked to the victim in Spanish. Gonzalez was deported later on the day the incident occurred and his whereabouts is unknown, Armstrong said.

Bustos and another Customs inspector who witnessed the incident said they did not write a report on the incident because they were not asked to. Both men said that Grimes was their immediate supervisor and it is up to the supervisor to request an incident report.

Grimes’ superiors began the investigation when a senior Customs officer learned of the beating and complained.

Grimes has been on an unpaid leave of absence since December and is currently free on $1,000 bond. If convicted, he could receive a year in jail and a $100,000 fine.