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Hundreds protest arrest of activist

TUCSON, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Hundreds of people turned out at the Tucson Police Department to protest the arrest of a community activist for interfering with Border Patrol agents.

Raul Alcaraz Ochoa was arrested when he allegedly tried to prevent a man determined to be in the United States illegally from being detained, the Arizona Daily Star reported Tuesday.

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Border Patrol agents said Alcaraz failed to follow agents' orders and lay down under a patrol vehicle to prevent it from moving.

Police spokesman Sgt. Chris Widmer said officers were called Sunday to investigate a report that a man put three children into the back seat of a car and two others in the trunk.

The driver of the car, Meza Huerta, was cited for civil child restraint violations and having a suspended driver's license.

Border Patrol agents were called after police determined Huerta wasn't a legal resident. Arizona law required officers to check Herta's immigration status.

Alcaraz, who happened on the scene, was arrested when he interfered.

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