BajaNomad - U.S. man living in Baja killed

U.S. man living in Baja killed

BajaNews - 7-18-2010 at 10:14 AM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/17/us-man-living...

By Sandra Dibble
July 17, 2010

A 49-year-old U.S. citizen was found shot to death outside his motor home south of downtown early Saturday. The victim, identified as Richard Berg Pontious, was born in Oklahoma and had lived in Baja California for several years, authorities said.

The man lived near the Baja Film Studios and neighbors there told police they heard gunshots at about 4 a.m. The man's body was found shortly after 7 a.m. and authorities found cartridges from a 9mm handgun at the scene, they said.

No arrests had been made by late Saturday. Authorities said they were looking into the victim’s contacts and means of support.

A spokesman for the Baja California Attorney General’s Office said the victim owned a half-dozen small fishing boats, or pangas. The man had a U.S. criminal record and was sentenced to 24 months in a federal prison following an arrest on marijuana sales and smuggling charges, Mexican officials said.

BajaNews - 7-18-2010 at 10:17 AM

http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldetijuana/notas/n1711784.htm

"ocurrieron en el domicilio del fallecido ubicado en la colonia Hermenegildo Cuenca Díaz, en el kilómetro 39 de la carretera Tijuana-Ensenada"

richard-berg-pontious.jpg - 11kB

BajaNews - 7-18-2010 at 10:24 AM

http://www.el-mexicano.com.mx/informacion/noticias/1/3/estat...

PLAYAS DE ROSARITO.- Un residente estadounidense con antecedentes penales en Estados Unidos y en esta ciudad, fue asesinado de tres balazos que recibió en el pecho, en un hecho que ocurrió en horas de la madrugada del sábado afuera de su domicilio, ubicado en el Racho Matajamil, kilómetro 30, colonia Cuenca Díaz, mejor conocido como La Barca, sobre el bulevar Artesanal Popotla. El ahora occiso era originario de la ciudad de Okla-homa y fue identificado como Richard Berg Pontious, de 49 años de edad, quien era propietario de dos embarcaciones, tipo panga, equipadas con motores fuera de borda y adaptadas con bancas para transportar personas, las que tenía resguardadas en el estacionamiento techado de su casa, mientras que su cuerpo quedó tendido al lado de una de ellas. El comandante de la Policía Ministerial en esta ciudad, José Antonio Sánchez Velásquez, informó que de acuerdo con las primeras investigaciones, el estadounidense se encontraba en el interior de su domicilio hasta donde llegaron varios individuos a bordo de al menos dos vehículos. Indicó que de acuerdo con la mecánica de los hechos, sus agresores lo sacaron de su casa, a la que incluso pretendieron incendiar sin que lo lograran, para llevárselo hasta donde se encontraban las dos embarcaciones y lado de una de ella lo asesinaron de tres balazos, aunque se encontraron seis casquillos percutidos. Precisó que luego de que su hija confirmó que se trataba de Richard Berg Pontious, al revisarse sus antecedentes se verificó que tenía abierta cinco averiguaciones previas en su contra como indiciado. Indicó que dos de ellas eran por robo de vehículo, una por robo simple, otra por robo en lugar cerrado y dos más por robo en grado de tentativa, situación por la que fue detenido en varias ocasiones y recluido en la Penitenciaría de La Mesa entre los años 2004 y 2005. Comentó que antes, en una cárcel del Condado de San Diego, California, estuvo preso durante dos años por tráfico de drogas, mientras que en marzo de este año agentes de la PGR lo detuvieron y se le abrió un proceso penal como presunto responsable de violación a la Ley General de Población, en su modalidad de tráfico de personas, pero obtuvo su libertad bajo fianza. El comandante de la Policía Ministerial, consideró que por los antecedentes de este estadounidense, que tenía mas de ocho años de residencia en esta ciudad, su asesinato tiene vinculación con el crimen organizado, que es lo que se está investigando.

[Edited on 7-18-2010 by BajaNews]

toneart - 7-18-2010 at 10:26 AM

Not to rush to judgment about this guy, but anyone having anything to do with drugs in Baja, especially in that region, is a target. Buyer, seller, accomplice or family are all vulnerable.

The appears to be a higher chance of complicity, given his past criminal record as reported in the news article.

Woooosh - 7-18-2010 at 10:43 AM

An American who owns pangas, lives in a Popotla trailer and has a background in drug trafficking. Maybe he was the genius who set the GPS to land the smuggling pangas on the beach at Camp Pendleton last week. Ooops. Could be anything, but it likely wasn't coincidental given his location, panga ownership in Popotla and previous background IMHO.

That an American who owns six pangas, lives in a Popotla trailer and has a background in drugs trafficking? puhlease. The 9mm casing say it all.

[Edited on 7-18-2010 by Woooosh]

toneart - 7-18-2010 at 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
That an American who owns six pangas, lives in a Popotla trailer and has a background in drugs trafficking? puhlease. The 9mm casing say it all.

Yep! Anyone who can't draw these conclusions needs to get a dope slap with the palm of a hand right in the middle of the forehead. That should cause an emission of air and vocal chord, sounding something like, "HuhnhaaaaahsssssssssDoy!ssssssssss...." :lol:

Handsome fella

Dave - 7-18-2010 at 01:01 PM

He must of kept a low profile. Haven't seen his face in the local joints. I'd remember.

Man Killed??????

jerryjust - 7-18-2010 at 01:10 PM

Sorry for his family but where in Baja did this happen,Baja is a big area????????

jerryjust

DENNIS - 7-18-2010 at 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jerryjust
Sorry for his family but where in Baja did this happen,Baja is a big area????????

The first post above said this:

"The man lived near the Baja Film Studios"

Woooosh - 7-18-2010 at 02:39 PM

"near the Fox Studios" (funny how that name change never took) would most likely be the Popotla fishing village (the locals Puerto Nuevo experience). Trailers are virtually impossible to defend against bullets so he must have felt safe or lived his life on the edge. He may not have been involved with all the smuggling from that location, but his 6 pangas would be of value to smugglers. The article says they are researching his income sources.

DENNIS - 7-18-2010 at 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
The article says they are researching his income sources.

I'm sure they'll assemble all that stuff and research it at Adelita's.

DianaT - 7-18-2010 at 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

That an American who owns six pangas, lives in a Popotla trailer and has a background in drugs trafficking? puhlease. The 9mm casing say it all.

Yeh, sounds like he made his choices for his life and his death----

But I still feel for his family---no matter how someone lives their life, they often have an innocent family left behind who may have been grieving for a very long time over the choices this man was making. And they may be grieving even more at this time.

Been there, done that. :no:

[Edited on 7-18-2010 by DianaT]

BajaBlanca - 7-18-2010 at 04:36 PM

Looks like it happened in a part of ROSARITO called LA BARCA.

chnlisle - 7-18-2010 at 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
The article says they are researching his income sources.

I'm sure they'll assemble all that stuff and research it at Adelita's.

If he flew in the drugs to the US he would be Pontious Pilot.

DENNIS - 7-18-2010 at 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca
Looks like it happened in a part of ROSARITO called LA BARCA.

We have a Nomad here, Von, who's family owns that place. [I think that's the way it goes]
JR lived there.

BajaNomad - 7-19-2010 at 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNews
...propietario de dos embarcaciones, tipo panga, equipadas con motores fuera de borda y adaptadas con bancas para transportar personas

This notes - I believe - that his pangas (or at least two of them) were setup to transport people.

[Edited on 7-19-2010 by BajaNomad]

rhintransit - 7-19-2010 at 06:20 AM

sure makes Mexico feel safer if people accuse the dead man of poor choices, crimes, drugs, etc etc etc.
I have no idea what the facts are; it doesn't sound like the speculators on this board do either...
my condolences to the family.

Woooosh - 7-19-2010 at 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rhintransit
sure makes Mexico feel safer if people accuse the dead man of poor choices, crimes, drugs, etc etc etc.
I have no idea what the facts are; it doesn't sound like the speculators on this board do either...
my condolences to the family.

If the article had not had emphasized his previous drug trafficking arrest and conviction history, it would not have been mentioned. Then again, if I was a former drug runner and wanted to start a fresh new life in Rosarito- I wouldn't choose owning pangas in the most active drug and human smuggling port in the area. right?

wessongroup - 7-19-2010 at 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

That an American who owns six pangas, lives in a Popotla trailer and has a background in drugs trafficking? puhlease. The 9mm casing say it all.

[Edited on 7-18-2010 by DianaT]

Ditto's ... on that

DENNIS - 7-19-2010 at 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rhintransit
I have no idea what the facts are; it doesn't sound like the speculators on this board do either...

Who in Mexico could possibly rely on facts to support the necessary assumptions to carry one through the day?
Fact-finding for anybody down here is difficult, and next to impossible for an expat limited to English.
How often has the question been asked here, "Are Stun-Guns legal in Mexico," only to be answered with guesses and gossip? No one really has the answer, nor do they have the ability to research it.

Just sayin', we rely on assumptions to function.

jak - 7-19-2010 at 09:00 AM

Assumptions are a favorite pastime for some.

fishabductor - 7-19-2010 at 09:08 AM

For all we know this guy was just chilling out at home and got robbed and shot. He may be no different from the rest of us. Many people have done illegal things at some point in their lives that they are not proud of in their current lives.

Give the guy's family a break.

Woooosh - 7-19-2010 at 09:25 AM

I'll go with this version. If it walks like a duck... QUACK

'At K30 in the La Barca area of Rosarito Beach according to El Mex, 49 year old American citizen Richard Berg Pontious was executed yesterday morning in front of his house. He was pulled from his house by an unknown number of men believed to be in two vehicles and shot three times although six casings were found at the scene. The attackers also attempted to burn down his house which was unsuccessful. Pontious was involved in at least human smuggling, in front of his house were two pangas adapted with benches for transporting people.

Pontious had a long prior arrest record in the States for two counts of vehicle theft, other charges on theft and attempted robbery. He had been imprisoned in San Diego for two years on the charges of drug trafficking. This year he had been detained by the PGR of Mexico for suspected human smuggling and released on bail.

According to the Ministerial Police Commander, Pontious had lived in Rosarito for the past eight years, his murder is related to organized crime and will be investigated on that level."

surfer jim - 7-19-2010 at 09:41 AM

QUACK,QUACK,QUACK......

fishabductor - 7-19-2010 at 12:42 PM

I now agree...Quack, quack, quack.........whoever who'd kill a coyote?

bajario - 7-19-2010 at 03:11 PM

I remember this guy when I fished out of Popotla probably 6-7 years ago. I never forgot his face as it was my 1st time there and he being a gringo in a mexican fishing village,seemed to be the man you needed to talk to for a panga. He would just sit in a chair outside a house/shack up top of the launch ramp/hill. He set us up w/ a panga but he conducted himself in a manner that left you wondering what is the story behind this guy.

Bajahowodd - 7-19-2010 at 03:39 PM

I can't get really mushy about his family, whoever they may be. This creep appears to have abandoned them at least eight years ago to lounge in a trailer and do whatever the heck. At least, this appears to have no resemblance to a story that folks should really care about. This dude undoubtedly had some major personality disorders and embraced a life of crime.

DianaT - 7-19-2010 at 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I can't get really mushy about his family, whoever they may be.

I guess that maybe you have never had a family member or close friend go down the wrong path and die because of those choices.

My thoughts are still with any family or friend who maybe care or did care at one time.

[Edited on 7-19-2010 by DianaT]

DENNIS - 7-19-2010 at 03:47 PM

He didn't seem like the family type to me.

DianaT - 7-19-2010 at 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
He didn't seem like the family type to me.

Yes, and maybe he was hatched and never had a mother, father, sister, brother, cousins, or otherwise. And maybe no where along his journey through life did he have a friend who cared.

So I guess there is no reason for anyone to grieve the loss of his life.

But someone probably will, or maybe not---

[Edited on 7-19-2010 by DianaT]

toneart - 7-19-2010 at 04:06 PM

His photo looks like actor Richard Boone. Remember Paladin?

His card reads: "Have Gun. Will never travel again!" :no:

Bajahowodd - 7-19-2010 at 04:12 PM

All I'm saying is that if this guy took off on a life as a reprobate criminal, virtually abandoning any family he MAY have had, if there was any family, after at least eight years, probably more, I would believe they long ago came to grips with who he was. I consider DianaT to be a friend here. But I am firmly convinced that appearing to reach out to a ghost family is somewhat mushy. And hollow. Sorry, Diane.

Bajahowodd - 7-19-2010 at 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
All I'm saying is that if this guy took off on a life as a reprobate criminal, virtually abandoning any family he MAY have had, if there was any family, after at least eight years, probably more, I would believe they long ago came to grips with who he was. I consider DianaT to be a friend here. But I am firmly convinced that appearing to reach out to a ghost family is somewhat mushy. And hollow. Sorry, Diane.

Sir! Methinks that you are denigrating a great theatrical actor! :lol:

It's actually sad that Richard Boone would be most remembered for a TV role. Not that I didn't enjoy the show. Seems like Tony and I are just reflecting our age. :smug:

Bajahowodd - 7-19-2010 at 04:18 PM

Order of posts counts.

BajaGringo - 7-19-2010 at 04:27 PM

I am sure that somebody, somewhere is mourning his death, even if just a drug supplier from one of the cartels or a coyote he owed money to.

Looking at his photo I swear that I have seen him somewhere around Rosarito - hard to forget that kind of face.

RIP...

[Edited on 7-19-2010 by BajaGringo]

Bajahowodd - 7-19-2010 at 04:31 PM

A customer?

Seriously, if he was in the hood for eight years, many people have come in contact.

DianaT - 7-19-2010 at 04:37 PM

Quote:

---I guess when you have been there, these things hit too close to home----

I was being very sincere----but if it is hollow and mushy to you, well so be it. No problem.

Have Gun Will Travel

tripledigitken - 7-19-2010 at 04:49 PM

"a knight without armor in a savage land"

Obviously not referring to this guy, just a great song for a TV show.

DENNIS - 7-19-2010 at 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaGringo
I am sure that somebody, somewhere is mourning his death,

I'm sure you're right. There will be a riot of mourners trying to claim his body at Semafo, I'll bet.

Maybe a parade....black arm bands....tears........

Mexicorn - 7-19-2010 at 05:33 PM

He used to hang out at Cantiles from time to time and I'd see his vehicle infront of Rickeys place tambien-
go figure.....................................................................

Mexicorn - 7-19-2010 at 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mexicorn
He used to hang out at Cantiles from time to time and I'd see his vehicle infront of Rickeys place tambien-
go figure.....................................................................
Also the park behind Bada Bing is La Barca. It's well know for criminality in the past I know of one other American who lived there that was busted twice for running dope across the POE getting caught.

Here's the dealie o the owners whom I wont mention their name in fear of being wacked are long time hoods in Rosarito.
nuff said-

See you guys at comic con I'll be the nerd holding a light saber :spingrin:

Woooosh - 7-19-2010 at 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MexicornSee you guys at comic con I'll be the nerd holding a light saber :spingrin:

oh yeah- that narrows it down to a few hundered... which color? :bounce:

wilderone - 7-29-2010 at 07:25 AM

related to .... ???

Baja commander shot to death
By Sandra Dibble, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 8:25 p.m.

ROSARITO BEACH — A state police commander in Rosarito Beach was shot to death Tuesday night, hours after his agents had found 23 migrants who told authorities they were going to be smuggled to the United States for $5,000 apiece.

José Antonio Sánchez Velásquez was attacked by armed assailants about 10:30 p.m. outside his office on Boulevard Popotla south of downtown. Another agent was injured in the attack; he was being treated at a hospital in Tijuana, the Baja California Attorney General’s Office reported Wednesday.

The state’s attorney general, Rommel Moreno, said investigators are looking into whether the commander was killed by smugglers as a result of the discovery of the migrants. They were staying inside a private residence whose owner was away. The house was along the free road to Ensenada, near the community of Primo Tapia.

Moreno didn’t specify how the migrants were to be transported, but the area has increasingly been used as a staging site for maritime smuggling.

Woooosh - 7-29-2010 at 09:06 AM

ya think? lol