Three deported in Wheelersburg incident (The Ironton Tribune)

Three deported in Wheelersburg incident

By Staff Report | The Tribune

Published Saturday, August 29, 2009

WHEELERSBURG — Three illegal immigrants are being deported back to their native Mexico in connection with an incident that occurred on Aug. 22.

The incident, which grew in notoriety following a chain of e-mails by the supposed victim this past week, alleges four males followed and harassed him and his wife in the parking lot of the Wheelersburg Kroger following a minor accident between both parties on SR 552.

When Scioto County deputies arrived on the scene, two of the four males began to walk away from the vehicle. The deputy ordered both men to stop and while complying with the order, the deputy heard a “clunk” sound which was later revealed to be a semi-automatic gun being placed in the cubby hole of a beverage vending machine.

In the cubby, the deputy found a loaded gun. Additional ammunition matching the semi-automatic was found following a search of the vehicle.

Scioto County Sheriff Marty Donini said in a press release Friday that there was no evidence that the weapon was fired and no alcohol was found in the suspect’s car.

Three of the four arrested; Samuel Diego, 18, Alberto Martinez, 22 and Olan Mendoza, 26 were charged with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. Sebastian Velasc, 24, was also charged with improper handling of a firearm along with DUI.

Diego, Martinez and Mendoza were picked up Aug. 25 for deportation by officials from the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Donini said in the release the incident has been resolved to the fullest extent of the law.