Signed Memo to S1 Re Investigation of Alcan Boy Scout Encounter (2)

8/11/2019 Signed Memo to S1 Re Investigation of Alcan Boy Scout Encounter (2)

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~F 4A~~~Hy.

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

~5o~~~gND 56~ J~ Depar tmen t of H o m e l a n d S e c u r i t y

A U G1 3 1 0 1 4

MEMORANDUM FOR: The Ho n or a b l e Jeh J ohn s on

Secre ta ry

FROM: Jo hn Roth

Inspec to r G e n e r a l

SUBJECT: I n v e s t i g a t i o n of Alcan B o y Sco u t E n c o u n t e r

The O f f i c e of Inspector G e n e r a l ( OI G ) a n d C u s t o m s a n d B o r d e r Protect ion (CBP), f f i c e

of n t e r n a l A f f a i r s I A ) , a r e c o n d u c t i n g a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o a n a l l e g a t i o n that a CB P

O f f i c e r (CBPO) r e w a n d poin ted a f i r ea rm a t a B o y S c o u t while c o n d u c t i n g a n

inspec t ion a t the Alcan Por t of Entry (POE) , Alaska. This repor t c o v e r s f ie ldwork

p e r f o r m e d f r o m J u l y 2 5 , 2014 hrough Au gu s t 8 , 2 0 14 .

A B o y S c o u t S c o u t m a s t e r, r a v e l i n g with h i s B o y S c o u t t roop t hrough the Alcan P O E ,

a l l e g e d tha t a n un nown CBPO CBPO ) poin ted a f i r ea rm a t a n unnamed B o y S c o u t

( B o y Scou t 1 ) . A s n o t e d below, based u p o n the i n v e s t i g a t i o n t o da te , which i s

s u b s t a n t i a l l y c o m p l e t e d , h e a l l e g a t i o n a p p e a r s t o b e unsubs tan t i a ted .

A g e n t s f r o m O I G a n d C B P I A traveled t o m u l t i p l e s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g Alaska, n s u p p o r t oft h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n . A g e n t s r e v i e w e d t h e POE e c u r i t y v i d e o of t h e e n c o u n t e r ; c o n d u c t e d

CBP o l i c y research; a n d in te rv iewed t h e S c o u t m a s t e r, he B o y Scouts of A m e r i c a

Execu t ive S t a f f , l l adults tha t w e r e par t of the B o y Sco u t g r ou p involved i n t he

e n c o u n t e r, CBP eadership, a n d t h e CBPOs nvolved i n the e n c o u n t e r.

Timel ine of t h e e n c o u n t e r :

t 8 :50 p .m. , u l y 7 , 2014, a g r o u p of B o y Scouts a n d t h e i r adult c h a p e r o n e sa r r i v e d a t the Alcan POE n four v e h i c l e s .

D u r i n g the p r i m a r y inspec t ion process , a B o y S c ou t ( B o y S c o u t 2 ) ook p i c t u r e s of

t h e P O E . A CBPO CBPO ) , C B P, l can , Alaska, n s t r u c t e d B o y S c o u t 2 o delete

t h e p i c t u r e s a n d t o show h i m tha t the photos w e r e deleted. A f t e r B o y S c o u t 2

de le ted t h e l a s t photograph, CBPO 2 aw n o t h e r p h o t o g r a p h o f a hand holding

w h a t a p p e a r e d t o be m a r i j u a n a . B o y S c o u t 2 d m i t t e d tha t t was i s hand i n t he

photograph holding a m a r i j u a n a bu d / f lower. CBPO 2 ubsequent ly searched the

v e h i c l e while t h e occupa n t s wai ted i n t h e POE f f i c e a n d the r e s t of t h e g r o u p


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S OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERALo~~~9ND S~~J~ Depar tmen t o f H om e l a n d S e c u r i t y

wai ted n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e v e h i c l e s . D u r i n g t he e a r c h , CBPO 2 n s t r u c t e d thed r i v e r s a n d occupants of t he o t h e r t h r e e v e h i c l e s t o r ema in n t h e i r v e h i c l e s , a n d

t h a t t he a i l u r e t o do so would r e s u l t i n b e i n g d e t a i n e d .

W h i l e CBPO 2 e a r c h e d t h e v e h i c l e , CBPO 1 ocated a n d o b t a i n e d Boy Scout s

bag . I n i t i a l l y t h e b a g was el ieved t o b e i n a roof s to rage con ta ine r on a

s e p a r a t e v e h i c l e , s o Boy Scout 1 l i m b e d on t h e v e h i c l e t o obta in t h e b a g w h i l e

CBPO 1 a t c h e d . T h e b a g was ventu al ly located i n s i d e a d i f f e r e n t v e h i c l e a n d

CBPO 1 u b s e q u e n t l y s e a r c h e d t h e bag. Noth ing of ev iden t i a ry va lue was o u n d

i n t h e s e a r c h of t h e v e h i c l e or bag .

BPO 2 eleased t h e g r o u p a t 9:39 p.m. , u l y 7 , 20 14 , 49 i n u t e s a f t e r a r r i v i n g a tt h e POE.

T h e S c o u t m a s t e r r e t u r n e d t o t h e POE f f i c e s h o r t l y a f t e r b e i n g re leased a n d

a s k e d for ass i s t ance i n f i x i n g a l a t t i r e . CBPO 2 e l p e d f i x t h e i r e , b u t

recommended h a t t h e S c o u t m a s t e r i s i t a m e c h a n i c n Border C i t y , Alaska,

a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h r e e miles a w a y , or a m o r e p e r m a n e n t r e p a i r . CBPO 2 e n t t h e

S c o u t m a s t e r h i s persona l i r e p a t c h k i t a n d asked t h a t h e l eave t w i t h t h e

m e c h a n i c , w h i c h t h e S c o u t m a s t e r d i d .

I n v e s t i g a t i v e f i n d i n g s regard ing t h e e n c o u n t e r :

On u l y 3 0 , 2014 , h e S c o u t m a s t e r o l d a g e n t s t h a t h e d i d n o t w i t n e s s a n y CBPO

w i t h d r a w a f i r e a r m , b u t t h a t h e was o l d b y Boy Scouts t h a t t h e y w i t n e s s e d

CBPO 1 i t h d r a w a f i r ea rm a n d point t at a Boy Scout w h i l e t h e Boy Scout was

on t o p of h e v e h i c l e . T h e S c o u t m a s t e r refused to i d e n t i f y t h e Boy Scouts;

h o w e v e r , t was a t e r d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e scou ts who e r e a l l e g e d t o h a v e s e e n

t h e weapon w e r e B o y Scout 1 n d a n o t h e r Boy Scout (Boy S c o u t ) . Th e

S c o u t m a s t e r a l s o r e fused t o a s s i s t a r rang ing in te rv iews of Boy Scout 1 n d Bo y

S c o u t 3.

n t e r v i e w s of t h e o t h e r adul ts on t h e r i p i d e n t i f i e d Boy Scout 1 n d Boy Scout 3a s t h e Boy Scouts who l a i m e d t h e y saw CBPO r a w a f i rearm. No n e othert h a n Boy S c o u t 1 n d Boy Scout 3 l l e g e d t o h a v e s e e n a w e a p o n . T h e d r i v e r of

t h e v e h i c l e c a r r y i n g Boy S c o u t 2 who was ak ing p h o t o g r a p h s ) tated t h a t CBPO

2 n s t r u c t e d t h e boy not to t ake p i c t u r e s a n d t h a t e v e r y p i c t u r e was 10 , 0 0 0

f i n e .


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~~~~ O FFICE OF I NSPECT OR G ENERA L

~ '~~~ De p a r t m e n t o f Ho m e l a n d S ec u r i t y

Age n t s a t t e m p t e d t o i n t e rv i ew Boy Sco u t n d Boy S c o u t 3 n multipl e

o c c a si o n s but n e i t h e r f a m il y respon ded. A B o y Sc out e x e c u t i v e a t t empted t of a c i l i t a t e th e i n t e r v i e w s of Bo y Scout 1 a n d B oy Scout 3 , but w a s unable to g a i n

co o pera t ion f r om e i t h e r f a m il y .

A r e v i e w o f t h e P OE e c u r i t y v i d e o gave n o i n d i c a t i o n t h a t a CBPO w i t h d r e w a

f i r e a r m during t h e encou nte r. CBPO 1 s tepped out of t h e f r a m e o n ce o r 13

seco nds; d u r i n g t h i s t ime , Bo y Scou t 1 n i t i l l ycl imbe d on to p of th e v e h i c l e .

How ev e r , here w er e n o v i s u a l i n d i c a t i o n s f r o m a n y o n e e l s e n t h e i e l d of v i ew

t o i n d i c a t e that CBPO 1 w i t h d r e w a f i r e a r m . F u r thermo r e , Bo y Scout 1 wh o o l d

other membe rs o f h i s group t h a t h e s a w CBP O 1 o i n t a f i r e a r m a t h i m , a p p ears

to h a v e h a d h i s back to CB P O 1 u r i n g t h e e n t i r e 13 secon ds. CBPO 1 c ame back

i n t o f r a m e w h i l e Boy Sc out 1 w a s t i ll on t o p of the v e hi c l e a n d d i d n o t a p p e a r t ob e r e a c t i n g to Bo y Scout 1 n a d e f e n s i v e m a n n e r.

C BP O 1 a n d CBPO 2 e r e i n t e r v i e we d a n d den ied drawi ng a w ea p o n a t any p o i n t

during t h e enc o unter.

T h e Scoutmas t e r s t a t e d t h a t t h e scout who ad t h e f i r e a r m p o i n t e d a t h i m ( Boy

Scout 1 ) heard a c l i c k a n d turned a r ound t o ob se r ve a CBPO p o i n t i n g a f i r e a r m

a t hi m. T h e v i d e o re v iew not ed t h a t Bo y Sc o ut 1 i d not a p p e a r t o t u r n a r o u n d

d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d n which CBPO 1 st e pped ou t o f f r a m e . Durin g CBPO ' s

i n t e r v i e w, CBPO 1 demons t ra ted t h e use of h i s h o l s t e r a n d agents not e d t h a t t h eho l s t e r i s n ea r l y i n a u d i b l e .

T h e Scoutmas t e r s t a t e d t h a t a CBPO th re a tened a f i n e a n d i l t i m e o r

photo grap hing a t th e POE. CBPO 1 a n d CBPO 2 en ied t h i s .

CBPO 1 a n d CBPO 2 ot h s t a t e d t h a t th e P OE s m a r k e d w i t h a s i g n n o t i n g t h a t

phot og raphs a t t h e POE r e not allowed . Agen t s o bta ined p hotogr aphs of th e

si gn , w h i c h s ays NOTICE NO PHO TOGR APHY B EYOND HI S P O I N T. Th e i g n i s

p o s ted on t h e exter i or o f t h e POE u i l d i n g a n d faces t h e e n t ry inspectio n lane,

s e r v i n g as n o t i c e f o r t r a v e l e r s e n t e r i n g the i n s p e c t i o n l a n e s .

The P O E s Fede ra l pr o pe r ty s ubject t o Ge n e r a l Servi ces Admin is t ra t i on GSA )

r ule s g o v e r n i n g co n d u c t on such pr oper ty. S e e 4 . F . R . subpar t C, C o n du c t o n

Fede ra l Prop e r ty. GSA's r u l e s give author i ty t o agenc ie s occu p y i n g Fede ra l

prope r ty a n d a l s o g o v e r n c o n d u c t b y a n y p er son en te r ing such prop e r ty.

S p e c if i c a l l y , photograp h y o r no n - commerc ia l purp oses s o n l y pe rmit ted w i t h

t h e p e r m i s s i o n o f the occupying a gency, see 41 . F . R . 102 7 4 .420 , a n d a n y


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z OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

o~~t9ND 56~ 'J~ D e p a r t m e n t of H o m e l a n d S e c u r i t y

person e n t e r i n g F e d e r a l property m u s t comply w i t h o f f i c i a ls i g n s of a

p r o h i b i t o r y , r e g u l a t o r y or d i r e c t o r y nature and w i t h t he l a w f u l d i r e c t i o n of

F e d e r a l p o l i c e o f f i c e r s . . . . 41 . F . R . 102- 74.385. Thus , CBP has t he a u t h o r i t y top r o h i b i t pho tog raphy w i t h i n t he POE and to post i g n s a c c o r d i n g l y , and anyonee n t e r i n g t he POE m u s t comply w i t h CBP's p r o h i b i t i o n s , u n l e s s granted

permiss ion otherwise by CBP.

C B P O t a t e d tha t h e i n s t r u c t e d t he d r i v e r s of t he other v e h i c l e s to r ema in i n

t h e i r v e h i c l e s because the Boy Scouts had e x i t e d t he v e h i c l e s and w e r e t h r ow i ng

i t ems a t o n e another; C B P O a i d that h e b e l i e v e d tha t t he s i t u a t i o n w a s

b e c o m i n g an o f f i c e r s a f e t y concern.

C o n c l u s i o n :

l l i n v e s t i g a t i v e l e a d s h a v e been pursued and exhaus ted . Based upon t he

i n v e s t i g a t i o n to date, OIG does not b e l i e v e a n y CBP personnel a c t e d

i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y . T h e a l l e g a t i o n appea r s to b e u n s u b s t a n t i a t e d .

C o s t s :

B e t w e e n J u l y 25, 2014 and August 11, 2014, DHS IG h a s spen t a t o t a l of

$19,224.49 n v e s t i g a t i n g t h i s encounter. OIG does no t have t he c o s t f i g u r e s f o r

CBP I A , but t i s l i k e l y comparable .

c c : T h e Honorable G i l K e r l i k o w s k i ,Commiss ione r

U . S . C u s t o m s and Border P r o t e c t i o n

T h e Honorable T h o m a s R . CarperT h e Honorable Tom Coburn, M . D .

T h e Honorable M a r y . L a n d r i e u

T h e H o n o r a k i l e D a n Coats

T h e Honorable P a t r i c k J Leahy

T h e Honorable C h a r l e s G r a s s l e y

T h e Honorable Michael McCaulT h e Honorable Bennie G. T h o m p s o n

T h e Honorable John C a r t e r

T h e Honorable David P r i c e

T h e Honorable D a r r e l l E . I s s a

T h e Honorable E l i j a h C u m m i n g s

T h e Honorable B o b Goodlatte

T h e Honorable John Conyers, r

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Signed Memo to S1 Re Investigation of Alcan Boy Scout Encounter (2)