Man charged with spraying manure on U.S. border patrol car

MONTPELIER, Vt. — A man who says his livelihood in agriculture has been nearly ruined by people who entered the country illegally to work on local farms is facing charges he sprayed liquid manure on a marked U.S. Customs and Border Protection car after confronting an agent about immigration enforcement.

Mark Johnson is due in court Thursday in North Hero to answer charges of assault and disorderly conduct from the Aug. 3 spraying at the edge of a farm field about 2 miles (3 kilometers) south of the Canadian border.

Johnson, who does custom manure spreading, said he didn't know the border patrol agent was behind him when he turned on his spreader. But the spraying came after he asked the agent in the car why authorities weren't doing more to arrest immigrants who are in the country illegally and are working on Vermont farms.

Johnson, who's from Alburgh, said the agent was rude.

Read more: http://gazette.com/man-charged-with-spraying-manure-on-u.s.-border-patrol-car/article/1609264