An incident in rural southern Arizona escalated into a full-blown assault charge when an Arizona man fired upon a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter amidst a law enforcement pursuit, the U.S. Attorney's Office has confirmed that the man in question, Patrick Gary Schlegel, from Sahuarita, is currently facing several federal charges.
While supporting a human trafficking pursuit near Arivaca, the helicopter, operated by a federal agent came under fire by Schlegel, which quickly led to a ground response where a Border Patrol agent returned fire, subsequently managing to apprehend the 34-year-old after he sustained injuries and was then transported to a local hospital for treatment, according to the information released by the U.S. Attorney's Office on January 28th, Schlegel's actions have resulted in him charged with assault on a federal officer among other offenses.
"There is no ambiguity here, shooting at any law enforcement officer—including federal agents—is a violent felony that attacks the rule of law and undermines universal American values," U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine was quoted, emphasizing the gravity of the offense as well as the efforts by local and federal law enforcement, in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Additionally, Schlegel was found to be wanted on a federal escape warrant, with a history of multiple felonies including alien smuggling and with an active order of protection issued against him in Pima County.
Charges set forth in the criminal complaint include 18 USC 111 (Assault on a Federal Officer), 18 USC 922(g) (Prohibited Possession of a Firearm), and 8 USC 1324 (Transportation of an Illegal Alien) the U.S. Attorney's Office continues to scrutinize the incident for additional federal law violations, further investigation is ongoing the FBI's Tucson office has taken the lead in this investigation, receiving assistance from both the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
While a criminal complaint simply acts as a means to charge an individual, it does not imply guilt; Schlegel, like anyone charged, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt through evidence presented in court. His case number is 26-01491MJ, as cited in release number 2026-010_Schlegel from the provided Justice Department source.
