Sheriff’s Office to increase patrols in Far East El Paso desert area
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office plans to increase patrols in the desert area behind the Socorro Student Activities Complex, which is infamous for off-roading, drinking hangouts and recreational shooting.
In recent years, the desert area has also been the site of several homicides and numerous deadly accidents. ABC-7 was given the opportunity to ride along with sheriff’s deputies to get a first-hand look at the challenges of patrolling the area.
“Out here, we’re often enforcing the burn ban,” said Deputy Manuel Reyes, who patrols the area in a Hummer.
Bonfires are illegal in the County, but that doesn’t discourage groups from lighting fires in the desert area in Far East El Paso.
There’s another pressing issue: alcohol consumption by those off-roading in the area.
Deputy Reyes has to make sure there are no underage drinkers. His warning to those off-roading: just because you are in the desert doesn’t mean you can get away with drinking and driving.
“As long as your on a motor vehicle, and you have had too much to drink and you are legally intoxicated, you can be arrested for a DWI,” Deputy Reyes said, “Even if it’s on an ATV.”
One of the challenges deputies face while patrolling the rough terrain is the darkness. “It’s difficult for us. We can’t necessarily send our patrol units. Even in a humvee, we’re having a little trouble maneuvering out here,” he said.
Deputies say those who pose the biggest threat to public safety are those involved recreational shooting.
“A lot of people come out here and they start drinking and they start shooting weapons, and you start putting drinking and shooting, that’s not a good combination,” Reyes said.
Reyes says deputies don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, but they want to keep the area safe. “We just want to make sure everyone out here is staying safe we don’t want to have to come over here because there’s someone hurt or anything like that..that all we want the community to know,” the deputy said.
