Gascón praises officers, criticizes sweeps

Mesa police Chief George Gascón said Friday he is proud of the fact that two days of demonstrations went smoothly, but he is still worried about Sheriff Joe Arpaio's plans for future immigration sweeps.

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"I am concerned about the consequences of his actions," Gascón said during the second day of the sweeps.

Only about 35 protesters turned out near Baseline Road and Mesa Drive for the second day of the operation, but some still took the stage and gave motivational speeches to a cheering crowd. "What has happened yesterday and today is a magnificent act of citizenship," said Antonio Bustamante, a Phoenix attorney. "Because of the mobilization of the community ... what has been the result? The sheriff did not set up here."

But at a news conference Friday night, Arpaio said he intentionally stayed away from Mesa was to thwart the demonstrators.

"I wasn't afraid to go," Arpaio said. "The reason I did this was because they were waiting. I played a little game with them."

Arpaio said the two-day sweeps resulted in at least 59 arrests; deputies were still out on the streets of Mesa at 9 p.m. when the sheriff held a news briefing at his downtown Phoenix office. Twenty-five of those arrested were illegal immigrants, he said, although there was no way to independently confirm that number late Friday.

Arpaio said he thought people stayed off the streets during the sweeps but that the operation was a success. "With all the hype that was going on people were being warned, people were afraid. They were staying in their house," he said. "With all that deterrence we did good."

He wouldn't say when he might do the sweeps in Mesa again, but promised that he would bring his deputies back. He also refused to say whether he would be more cooperative with the Mesa police next time or even give them a heads up.

Friday's operation drew far fewer demonstrators then the 200 who showed up Thursday.

Max Santana, 32, of Mesa said he stopped by today's event with water to hand out after hearing about the protests on a local radio station.

"I think it's wrong," Santana said of the sheriff's sweeps. "I think people are trying to work. We're all the same you know?"

But Glenn Gryka, 47, and Victoria Mott, 40, both of Mesa, didn't agree. The pair joined the demonstration to support Arpaio. "It's about time someone did something about illegal immigration," Gryka said. "I think you seal the borders, round up men and recruit them for the military."

Although there were fewer police officers at the event, they moved in close any time people from opposing groups came near one another. No civil disturbances or arrests occurred on either day during the demonstrations, Gascón said. "I was very proud of the way (the officers) handled this yesterday," Gascón said. "It would've turned into a three-ring circus like it has in the past."