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Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Canadian held after biting border guard

By PAUL SHUKOVSKY
P-I REPORTER

An irate Canadian visitor faced a federal judge Monday in Seattle on a felony charge that he bit a U.S. border guard on the left pinky finger.

Michel Labadie was driving into the United States on Saturday morning at the Blaine border crossing when he was told that he had been randomly selected for secondary inspection, according to a complaint filed by Senior Special Agent Eric Lehmann of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"I don't have time for this," said Labadie, who then entered the secondary inspection area "at a high rate of speed."

While Labadie was undergoing secondary inspection, a computer check revealed that he had been involved in a prior incident involving an assault on officers during an inspection, Lehman said. Customs and Border Protection Officer Edward Escobar, who was present at the first incident, was called in.

When Escobar informed Labadie "that he did not believe he was a bona fide visitor for pleasure," Labadie took exception.

"Under what authority do you have to send me back?" court documents quote Labadie asking. When Labadie was told to take a seat, he refused and asked Escobar "in a threatening manner, 'Do you want me to put you on your ass again like last time?' "

That's when Escobar called for help. Labadie was instructed to unclench his fists and take a seat. When he allegedly refused, officers moved in to restrain him. That's when Escobar was bitten on the pinky and apparently sustained a bone chip to his left elbow.

At a hearing Monday in U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge Monica Benton ordered Labadie held pending a detention hearing later in the week.

Labadie was not happy.

Before being led away by two deputy U.S. marshals, he told Benton: "There is no justice in this justice system, your honor. You are making a grievous error."

P-I reporter Paul Shukovsky can be reached at 206-448-8072 or paulshukovsky@seattlepi.com.
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