Iowa Boy Scout conflict with border protection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection staff will fly to Iowa to visit with Boy Scout leaders about an incident on the Alaskan border that's gaining national attention.

Boy Scout Troop 111, based in Grimes, Iowa, had an altercation with U.S. Boarder Patrol while driving into Alaska form Canada on July 8 as part of a three-week trip.

Jim Fox, leader of the troop, said one of the scouts took a picture of a border officer, prompting the officer to take the boy's camera and warning him that taking pictures of the staff is considered a federal offense. He said when one of the scouts went to get a bag for the officer to search, the scout said the officer drew his gun, pointing it at the scout,

'If the boys weren't scared before, they were terrified now,” Fox said. ' . . . This was an unnecessary intimidation of young men and all we wanted to do was bring them home to America.”

But Fox and border protection have conflicting stances about the event.

In an email statement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it takes all allegations very seriously, but denied the incident.

'CBP's review of this group's inspection, including video footage review, indicates that our officer did not un-holster or handle his weapon as stated in the allegation,” the statement said. 'The review revealed nothing out of the ordinary.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said its Internal Affairs department would further review the footage.

Robert Hopper, scout executive for the Mid-Iowa Council for Boy Scouts of America, said he's interested in meeting with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to get a better understanding of the situation.

'I think its petty good they're taking the time to come and address this personally,” Hopper said. ' . . . We're just interested in finding out what occurred and what led to those things that made that occur.”