OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) - A U.S. Border Patrol agent was arrested in North San Diego County on suspicion of possessing heroin and a short-barrel rifle, Oceanside police reported Tuesday.
Officers were patrolling an apartment complex on Los Arbolitos Boulevard where a suspicious person had been reported last week. That's when they reportedly found Brandon Herrera passed out in the driver’s seat of a Ford pickup truck parked on a nearby street, police said.
Oceanside police said they found more than five grams of heroin and a weapon at the scene.
Herrera is due in court April 17.
Border Patrol officials issued this statement on the agent's arrest:
On April 8, 2018, an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent assigned to San Diego Sector was arrested by the Oceanside Police Department.
All U.S. Border Patrol employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner while on or off duty. The Border Patrol stresses honor, integrity, and service to country in every aspect of our mission, and the overwhelming majority of employees and agents perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe. The Border Patrol is committed to these values and fully cooperates in investigations with law enforcement.
San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Rodney Scott stated: “The U.S. Border Patrol serves the community with honor and integrity and has zero tolerance for illicit drug use. Any allegation that tarnishes the badge and violates the public trust is taken seriously. We are cooperating with the investigating agency and the employee in question has had his law enforcement authority revoked and has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.”
