U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Tucson Sector conducted two separate rescue operations over the weekend, saving the lives of two U.S. citizens who became stranded in remote desert terrain in southern Arizona.
The rescues, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, highlight the role of Border Patrol agents not only in enforcing immigration laws, but also in providing critical life-saving assistance in dangerous and often isolated parts of the state.
On Saturday, agents from the Border Patrol’s elite Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) team were called to assist the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office after a hiker was reported injured and stranded near the Superstition Mountains, east of Phoenix.
The hiker, who reported a possible broken ankle and was unable to walk, was located by air aboard Pinal County’s rescue helicopter, Pinal Air 1. Given the rugged mountainside terrain, a BORSTAR agent was lowered by hoist to reach and stabilize the hiker, who was then airlifted to a safe area for further medical evaluation.
The following day, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Sonoita Station responded to a call from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office involving a lost hiker on the Arizona Trail near Pauline Ridge. The hiker, who had been missing for two days, was spotted by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations helicopter. However, thick vegetation and challenging terrain made a helicopter landing impossible.
Instead, ground-based agents hiked into the remote area, reached the hiker, administered immediate medical care, and transported him to the Sonoita-Elgin Fire Department for further treatment.
“These rescues are a testament to [our agents’] training, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to public safety,” said Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent Sean L. McGoffin. “Our agents and teams continuously demonstrate their dedication to saving people’s lives.”
While U.S. Border Patrol is primarily known for its immigration enforcement mission, especially in southern border states like Arizona, its agents—particularly those assigned to specialized units like BORSTAR—frequently respond to emergencies involving lost, injured, or distressed individuals in remote regions.
Established in the late 1990s, BORSTAR was created in response to a rising number of migrant deaths in the desert but has since expanded its mission to include public safety rescues involving U.S. citizens and migrants alike. Arizona’s vast and often unforgiving terrain, particularly during extreme weather, can pose life-threatening risks to hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and undocumented migrants attempting to cross the desert.
Border Patrol agents in the Tucson Sector conduct many rescues each year, often working in partnership with local law enforcement and fire departments to locate and evacuate individuals from areas where traditional emergency services may be unable to reach quickly.
CBP and Border Patrol officials continue to encourage outdoor recreationists to be prepared and exercise caution when entering remote areas of the Arizona desert. Basic recommendations include carrying sufficient water, a charged cell phone or GPS device, and informing others of planned travel routes and return times.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Mark Lamb signed off ceremonially for the last time as Pinal County Sheriff shortly after midnight on New Years’ Day, ending an eight-year tenure as the top elected law-enforcement official of the county.
In a post to X, accompanying video of his broadcast to the department, Lamb announced that his career in law-enforcement has come to an end. He wrote, “It’s impossible to sum up in one post how I feel tonight! I knew this day would eventually come, but it still doesn’t make it easy. I have loved this career! Thank you does not even begin to justify my gratitude to my family, my command staff, all of the sheriff’s office employees, all of my fellow law enforcement and to my community. This has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life, especially the last eight years as Sheriff of Pinal County. Not only is 2024 coming to an end tonight, my career (in) Law Enforcement has come to an end as well. We gave it a good run! God Bless and Happy New Year!”
It’s impossible to sum up in one post how I feel tonight! I knew this day would eventually come, but it still doesn’t make it easy. I have loved this career! Thank you does not even begin to justify my gratitude to my family, my command staff, all of the sheriffs office… pic.twitter.com/1PjgpO0v7Q
Lamb opened his transmission identifying himself by the Sheriff’s callsign ‘Pinal One,’ and offered his emotional thanks to county dispatchers, deputies, corrections officers, employees, posses, COPs and his command staff. He closed his remarks by asking dispatch to show him as the police-standard ‘ten-code’ of 10-7 “Out of service,” which typically signifies the end of an officer’s watch or shift, for the final time.
Former gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson thanked Lamb and congratulated him in a statement posted to X, “Arizonans are safer for the work and dedication Sheriff Lamb has put in to defend our communities the last 8 years. In addition to all of the work he’s done, he’s been one of the top advocates in the country for dealing with the problems on our border and been a strong advocate for border security. Thank you, @sherifflamb1, for everything you have done and do on behalf of the people of Arizona!”
Arizonans are safer for the work and dedication Sheriff Lamb has put in to defend our communities the last 8 years.
In addition to all of the work he’s done, he’s been one of the top advocates in the country for dealing with the problems on our border and been a strong advocate… https://t.co/zSxTrBTgnX
In a Dec. 17th interview with KTAR’s Mike Broomhead, Lamb dismissed any further political office in his future following his primary election defeat to Kari Lake. “Politics in my future? It’s not a high probability.” He added, “But I am going to stay involved in the border.”
He told Broomhead that he’s currently working with the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR): “I’m gonna stay very active on [the] border and continue to tell people what’s going on there.”
The former Sheriff told KTAR in a statement that he’s hoping to assist the incoming Trump administration in its ongoing efforts to improve border security.
“As this administration begins to form itself out, and they start getting to work and starting to secure our border, holding people accountable who broke the law, I think that there will be some space there to at least consult, or help or sit on some boards or something that has to do with helping these policies,” Lamb said.
He told the outlet that he’s also willing to bring policy suggestions to Congress and work with them to pass more effective laws to address illegal immigration.
“I hope to be of some assistance as we try to fix this border crisis that this administration has created — or really, thrown gas on — over the last four years,” Lamb concluded. “I’m gonna stay in that law enforcement space, mental health space and border security.”
The newly elected Sheriff of Pinal County, Republican Ross Teeple, was sworn into office by his predecessor, former Sheriff Mark Lamb, earlier this month. Sheriff Teeple will report for duty effective January 1, 2025.
Teeple is a U.S. Navy veteran with 16 years of service with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. He has held a wide range of positions including Patrol Deputy, Search and Rescue Deputy, Honor Guard member, Patrol Sergeant, Criminal Investigations Sergeant, Internal Affairs Supervisor, Human Resources Manager, Patrol Lieutenant, and Lieutenant over Aviation, Search and Rescue, according to his campaign website.
Prior to his time with Pinal County, Sheriff Teeple served as a Corrections Officer for 12 years with the Arizona Department of Corrections. Over his 28 years in law enforcement, he has been decorated with several awards and commendations. During his career in the U.S. Navy, he served on a fast attack submarine as a Sonar Technician in Operation Desert Storm.
"It's a huge responsibility that I am so prepared for and really thankful for the voters of Pinal Co. for placing their trust in me."
Wednesday, Sheriff Elect Ross Teeple was sworn in to his new position by Sheriff Mark Lamb.
In a statement posted to X, Teeple said, “It’s a huge responsibility that I am so prepared for and really thankful for the voters of Pinal Co. for placing their trust in me.”
Lamb sat down with Teeple in a semi-casual video message in which Lamb bid goodbye to his friends, Deputies, and staffers and introduced Teeple.
After being introduced by Lamb, Teeple spoke highly of the soon-to-be-former Sheriff and praised his legacy saying he had “big shoes to fill.”
“I want to thank the citizens of Pinal County, especially for you guys having the trust and the gratitude and the strength to vote for me and wanting to continue on with the legacy that is Mark Lamb. I can tell you I’ve been all over this county speaking to as many people as I possibly can, getting out there knocking on as many doors, and when I talk to the people, it’s overwhelming how many people just absolutely adore this man and the way that he has run Pinal County and made us the safest large county in Arizona. And that’s directly related to you. I appreciate it,” said Teeple.
He continued, “I’m going to tell you right now, I’m probably one of the only people in Pinal County that wishes you would have done a less better job. I have really big shoes to fill because you did an amazing job. In stepping into them, there’s nowhere to go but up, but there’s a lot of way to go down, and I’m not going to allow that to happen.”
In the 2024 General Election, Teeple defeated his Democratic opponent, Patrick Melvin, a retired Deputy Chief with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office by a massive margin of 27.2%, or 55,176 votes, indicating wide voter support for a continuation of Lamb’s policies.
With voter confidence at an all-time low, state and county elections officials have their work cut out for them to run the 2024 polls effectively and restore the faith. However in Pinal County, with just weeks left before the Arizona primary, a small mistake could have large repercussions and does not build voter confidence.
As reported by SanTanValley.com, early ballots sent out July 3 for the 2024 primary election taking place July 30 were mailed, missing a “critical update regarding the return instructions.” The outlet reported that the county, in an effort to alleviate confusion between neighboring Maricopa County’s ballots and its own, switched from using green ballot return envelopes to “buff-colored” envelopes… without altering the instructions to the voter. So the written instructions that accompanied the ballot instruct the voter to use an envelope they weren’t sent.
In a statement reported by The Apache Junction/Gold Canyon Independent, the county said, “Unfortunately, the directions did not update the change from green to buff. Postcards with updated instructions will be mailed to all voters who received an early ballot. A notice will also be placed on the Pinal County Recorder’s website. The Republican and Democrat Party Chairs have been notified as has the Secretary of State’s office.”
Unfortunately, the directions did not update the change from green to buff.
To be clear, step 3 should read, “Place the WHITE affidavit envelope into the BUFF return envelope addressed to the Recorder and seal.”
The Pinal County Elections Department and the Pinal County Recorder’s Office provided the corrected instructions via a shared X account, which should have read:
Step 3: Place the WHITE affidavit envelope into the BUFF return envelope addressed to the Recorder and seal.
Ballots have arrived for the primary election! 🗳️
Are you ready for election day? Check your voter registration status by visiting https://t.co/rogGYJpQ7T.
The Arizona Republican Party posted an update regarding the error to X writing, “PINAL COUNTY VOTERS See Message from Recorder’s Office Error on Early Voting Ballot Printed Envelopes. The instructions call for a ‘GREEN’ return envelope but the color of the return envelope is ‘BUFF’ color. Follow these guidelines so that your ballot is processed timely: 1. Place your ballot into the WHITE affidavit envelope. 2. Sign and seal the WHITE affidavit envelope. 3. Place the WHITE affidavit envelope into the BUFF return envelope addressed to the Recorder and seal.”
🚨PINAL COUNTY VOTERS🚨 See Message from Recorder's Office Error on Early Voting Ballot Printed Envelopes
The instructions call for a "GREEN" return envelope but the color of the return envelope is "BUFF" color.
Follow these guidelines so that your ballot is processed timely:…
— Republican Party of Arizona (@AZGOP) July 7, 2024
Comments on the post revealed expressions of concern, dismay, and even dubiousness with one X user noting, “These mistakes don’t help anyone.” Another X user added, “Oh gee, who’d have guessed Pinal County messed up again?”
Paz Phillips an “AZ, Precinct & State Committeeman,” according to her bio asked, “Didn’t Pinal County just go through election problems and had to replace people?”
Didn’t Pinal County just go through election problems and had to replace people?
As noted by the commenters on X, and the AJ/GC independent, in the widely criticized 2022 primary election cycle, Pinal County suffered multiple printing errors on its early ballots and critical shortages of ballots at voting precincts on election day which contributed to massive erosion in voter confidence. As a result, the county elections department underwent a very public and costly revamp. However, this 2024 error is clearly not building voter confidence.
The owners of the businesses that power the economy of southern Arizona are about to see some long overdue relief from a 2018 excise tax which was struck down by the State Supreme Court in 2022. Affected businesses will be able to file for a waiver or refund of the tax by April 9, 2026 to recover at least $87 million that was unlawfully collected by the county with another $4 million in interest to be paid out proportionally. Unfortunately, consumers who paid the tax as part of a transaction, will be unable to seek a refund.
The Pinal County transportation excise tax was invalidated by the Arizona Supreme Court in Vangilder v. Arizona Department of Revenue, in which the court found that the Pinal County Board of Supervisors violated state law by adopting a “two-tiered retail transaction privilege tax (TPT) on tangible personal property as part of a transportation excise tax.” While the court held that the basis of the tax was lawful, it invalidated the two-tiered system where the first $10,000 of any one item was taxed at one rate and any in excess was taxed at zero percent.
Arizona Supreme Court Justice Kathryn H. King, a former Deputy General Counsel in the Office of Governor Doug Ducey and appointed by Ducey wrote for the court:
“For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that Pinal County complied with state law in adopting the transportation excise tax. We further conclude, however, that state law does not permit Pinal County to adopt a two-tiered retail TPT structure as part of a transportation excise tax, whereby the first $10,000 of any single item is taxed at one rate and any amount in excess is taxed at a rate of zero percent. For that reason, Pinal County’s two-tiered retail TPT structure in Proposition 417 is unlawful and invalid.
Accordingly, we affirm the court of appeals’ opinion in part and vacate in part. We vacate paragraphs 2 and 23–30 of the court of appeals’ opinion. We affirm the superior court on other grounds. We deny Vangilder’s request for attorney fees.”
The filing opportunity was announced in a letter from the Arizona Auditor General on May 17 according to The Center Square. The letter detailed that approximately $87 million was collected through the excise tax which has earned $4 million in interest adding that the ‘applicable interests” would be paid out to those requesting a refund as well. However, the actual consumers who paid the 0.5% sales tax up to the first $10,000 have no such recourse because of the “transaction privilege tax” status of Arizona the outlet noted cited the Pinal County website.
PINAL COUNTY TRANSPORTATION EXCISE TAX REFUND/WAIVER
Request refund/waiver of Pinal County transportation excise tax invalidated by AZ Supreme Court. Businesses that reported & paid tax 4/2018 to 3/2022 eligible. Must be received on or before 4/9/2026.https://t.co/ybsSxNPBZfpic.twitter.com/zfe3GNrnoL
— Maricopa County Republican Committee | MCRC (@MaricopaGOP) April 24, 2024
The Auditor General wrote, “Between April 1, 2018, and February 28, 2024, the Pinal Regional Transportation Authority did not expend any of the 2018 Excise Tax revenues or accrued interest.”
The county website explained, “Specifically, taxpayers who will be able to request a refund or waiver of monies paid toward this invalidated tax are generally limited to those businesses that filed and paid tax to the Department for the April 2018 through March 2022 tax periods as part of their overall transaction privilege tax liability, for business activity that they conducted either in Pinal County or with Pinal County customers.”
