A New York state couple has come forward to give their account of what they described as an unprovoked attack by a US Border Patrol agent earlier this month.
"He was really out of control," 65-year-old Carol LaDue told WWNY-TV. "The next thing you know, I put my hands up, he popped me in the head and knocked me unconscious."
LaDue and her husband, 66-year-old Richard LaDue, were hospitalized after their Dec. 4 encounter with 34-year-old Bryan C. McDonald. They also obtained orders of protection against the officer, who has been charged with second-degree assault. He was off-duty at the time of the incident.
The couple said that the incident began when Carol LaDue was flagged down while driving home, at which point she saw the body of McDonald's wife, 33-year-old Ashley McDonald, lying on the road. North County Now reported that, according to LaDue's statement to police, the officer yelled at her before hitting her in the face. LaDue reportedly suffered a concussion and a broken hand, among other injuries.
Richard LaDue arrived at the scene in a separate car, only to also be attacked by Bryan McDonald, suffering a broken nose.
"I think he would have beat [Carol] to death, I really do," Richard LaDue said. "There was no stopping the man. He was just out of control and very, very aggressive."
According to the Watertown Daily Times, Ashley McDonald's cause of death was listed as multiple severe traumatic blunt force and compressive injuries after being hit by a vehicle driven by 32-year-old Megan M. Phelix. No charges have been filed against Phelix as of Tuesday evening.
McDonald has been placed on administrative leave. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 12..
Watch WWNY's report, as aired on Monday, below.
[h/t The Free Thought Project]
