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Two Border Patrol agents have been put on paid leave after audience members complained they engaged in a sex act while attending a Cirque du Soleil theater performance in San Diego County.
Kallie Helwig, 24, and Gerald Torello, 35, were in the audience watching the show under a circus tent at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on March 27. They were off-duty at the time and were not in uniform, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
Spectators told sheriff’s deputies they saw the two touching each other inappropriately.
“According to the reporting party, they believed that the two folks, the suspects, were engaging in inappropriate behavior while sitting in stands with families around them,” sheriff’s Lt. Kenn Nelson told msnbc.com.
One witness told NBCSanDiego.com that the pair appeared to be engaging in oral sex. The witness, who asked not to be named, said she told the two to stop but they didn’t. She said two children turned around and also saw the couple in the compromising position. The male agent gave one of the children a high-five as this was happening, the witness said.
The couple eventually stopped when an usher approached, the witness said.
After the performance, as the crowd was exiting, Helwig allegedly punched one of the complaining patrons in the face, Nelson said.
"My vision went black, and that was the last thing I felt," the patron told NBC San Diego.
Watch US News crime videos on msnbc.com
Sheriff’s deputies arrived. Helwig was cited for misdemeanor battery. Torello was taken to the sheriff's substation in Encinitas, cited for public intoxication and released.
“This is not an everyday call,” Nelson said.
“This call was handled exactly as it would have been with any other citizen. The fact that these folks were with the Border Patrol had no influence on how the call was handled.”
The Customs and Border Patrol released the following statement about the incident:
“All Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner while on or off duty. CBP stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission, and the overwhelming majority of CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe. CBP takes every allegation of misconduct seriously and fully cooperates in the investigation of such allegations. Presently, the two employees in question have been assigned administrative duties.”
Both agents have been with the Customs and Border Patrol since 2008.
Helwig and Torello could not immediately be reached by telephone for comment on Tuesday.
Msnbc.com's James Eng and NBCSanDiego.com contributed to this report.
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All I can say is that I am glad Federal Workers are phucking up on the taxpayer's dime - all the more reason for a mass firing of the irresponsible @!$%#s so that we can get the taxes and debt under control. It is obvious we do not need to pay for this kind of behavior which directly or indirectly we are. Why are they on paid leave isn't that the same as vacation? Give me a BREAK!
They were off duty and not in uniform. It was in the article you did not read.
Get
a
room.
It isn't that difficult!
If you aren't going to actually read the article, don't comment.
They are on paid leave because they are innocent until proven guilty. That's a constitutional right you know, due process and all.
They were not on duty and not in uniform. I think they should be charged with some sort a sex crime as they were doing it in full view of children, if in fact they are found guilty.
What does he get for the face punching bit? A huge part of the event is missing.
This is a very odd story. Not sure why they felt it necessary to say where the couple worked. If it were two people from Goldman Sachs, would it have said, "Two Goldman Sachs employees having sex at Cirque de Soleil"? i think not.
this whole thing is so bizarre, I'm not sure I even believe it.
Cheetah - She punched, not him! Read it again...
So, what really happened?
One really fed up boomer,
Are you also the same type of individual that complains about our borders? Y'all need to get a coherent message or stop putting tea-partiers in congress.
Well a certain US Senator did say we needed more women in the SS to prevent agents paying for sex. They were merely following those guidelines. They were very stupid to be doing this in public and right after the SS episode though..
OK. What does she get for the face punching bit? A huge part of the event is missing
Reading is fundamental! :)
C'mon...this is the Border Patrol...where are all the "Fast and Furious" jokes?
The Border Patrol has my support no matter what. Round 'em up, and kick 'em out.
I wish they had the full support of our military.
Go get 'em ! ! !
cheetah, she gets misdemeanor battery charges - again, it's in the article! Try reading first.
And no, I don't know where your shoes, glasses or car keys are, either - try looking first. (That one was for your wife!)
Federal law enforcement agents are supposed to be law abiding at all times i.e. 24/7. That is the condition of employment for federal law enforcement officers. They receive approx 11 weeks of law enforcement training at Glynco, GA which is where we train most if not all federal law enforcement officers, agents, etc. Border Patrol agents are responsible for enforcing federal law(s), are authorized to carry govt issued guns and meet all other law enforcement requirements and as such pay into and are eligible for early retirement under early retirement for federal law enforcement, etc. Misconduct of law enforcement officers even though "off duty" does not shield them from administrative disciplinary action i.e. suspension and/or termination from their federal law enforcement jobs. The reads these two agents are on administrative paid leave meaning their paid time off the job will not be deducted from any saved annual or sick leave they may have. Paid leave without deduction from personal leave accounts is usually provided to federal employees as "time off awards." So despite being engaged in alleged misconduct their time off with pay is the same way as a time off award. Paid time off for federal employees is meant to provide their employing agencies with time to investigate the allegations, interview the agents involved, interview witnesses, determine credibility, etc. in order to determine the facts and appropriate disciplinary actions based on the findings. Paid time off for this purpose may be as long as 30 to 60 days depending on how long it takes CBP and DHS HR experts at the GS-14 and GS-15 levels to compile, assess and determine appropriate disciplinary action. This is a cut and dry case and it should not take America's best and brightest serving as HR experts in the CBP and DHS HR Offices more than 5 to 7 days to develop written notices of proposed disciplinary action for the agents to respond to before a final decision is made by CBP management. In contrast, however, the article also states CBP officials had reassigned these two agents to administrative duty meaning that they are not really on paid leave but are reporting for work on a daily basis performing administrative work. This is the latest reported incident of alleged misconduct involving DHS employees suggesting DHS really needs to have a more active and visible ethics and conduct program which is normally administered by agency HR Offices. Ethics and conduct training is pretty straight forward and is meant to keep federal employees from getting into trouble which makes it more puzzling as to why we are seeing a trend of alleged misconduct by DHS employees.
As is always the case, those who don't comprehend an article, make a big deal over fluff.
Obviously, the government isn't spending enough on education because "One really fed up boomer" can't read.
Classic! Scoring a blow job during the show and hi fiving some teen? Hopefully he blew a hot sticky one down her throat!
Because they're pubic servants, paid with our tax dollars, who are responsible for securing the borders of this nation. This is clearly unacceptable behavior for such a sensitive position of authority.
Well........ there shouldn't have been kids at the drive-in.
I notice a few folks expected certain moronic, root-cellar dwelling, nitwit nitizens to read an article before running their mouths.
Sadly, those folks have an unjustifiably high opinion of the human mind.
I am happy they were fired from their job.
Any kind of law enforcement or other jobs where you hold significant power over the life and death of other people, must require character and judgement that is beyond reproach.
Zipperthecat - hmmm these morons would probably be touching each other at the border too while the illegals drive past them in droves. Don't let your hatred for the brownies cloud your judgement of the stupidity of these two morons.
Its California. What do you expect?
Its America. What did you expect? Stupid stuff happens everywhere...
It happens everywhere, I know, but at the Cirque du Soleil???? Who could possibly get turned on by that???
Uh no, this is Florida News material.
They were off the clock, this is not news. Just more examples of the lack in journalism since the big corporations have taken over the majority of "news" outlets.
Big corporations profit when the masses are distracted by "non-news" articles like this. The public is once again distracted with useless information and less concerned with how big corporations are manipulating their lives. The big corporations( Oil, Auto, Pharmacy, Wall Street Banksters, etc.. ) are pushing towards an Orwellian society which they will then occupy it's highest seat/s.
There are many parallels with pre-nazi Germany and the US today. Not convinced ? Check out some of Naomi Wolf's series, the information is frightening and most people just ignore what is happening, and are too distracted with mainstream discourse to see the writing on the wall.
Otto-372694 - If you think simply being "off the clock" means it's not news, God help you. You clearly lack morals and couldn't possibly have kids (we hope). Pleasuring/exposing your sex organs in public AROUND KIDS or adults is never OK, off the clock or not! Where did your parents go wrong loser?
Really?
The news story is two people having inapporpriate conduct in a public place. If both parties had been employees of Walmart, or Joe's Tire and Muffler Repair, or County Abstract, or Bob's Deli, would it have made the news?
Aside from your political bias to bash some government agency, what possible connection is there between their employer and the conduct of a man an a woman, off the clock?
Seriously?!
You don't see a problem with two FEDERAL law enforcement officers (or any law enforcement officer for that matter) carrying on ths way in public, at a decidedly family-oriented function?
When you sign on as a public servant, making your livelihood at taxpayer expense, you most certainly have a higher standard of behavior to uphold - on & off the clock. Why? Because when a public servant gets in trouble due to a stunt like this - on or off duty - it reflects back on the organization they work for. Whether that is right or fair doesn't matter...that is how human perception works.
I'd bet cash money these two have had more than their share of training about personal & professional standards of conduct - again both on & off duty - by the Border Patrol. I'd bet cash money that getting a hummer or eating at the Y in the stands at a circus and throw a high five to a kid who happens to see you at it, wasn't part of that personal / professional conduct training.
All these two clowns did was to help further erode public confidence in both the organizations that help keep this country strong and our hard-working, supremely dedicated and thoroughly professional fellow citizens who perform those often thankless duties.
Hope the nut was worth it...
Well said Jim Burrill!!
And K Man629118: Why does it matter where they are employed?? Would you be this upset if they were two cashiers from a local grocery store?!?!?! Get a clue, dude! The only reason their employer is mentioned is to sensationalize the news report.
Jim...you hit the point solid!! Who cares if these two were FEDERAL employees? First, if you get knocked the F*ck out because you talk @!$%# after a show to a dude who got 'hummer', then you deserved what you got. If these two worked anywhere else in any other industry, it would never have spawned these responses. Someone else mentioned the thrill and turn on from getting caught or whatever, it is just that. When the moment hits, life is too short to not get on it!!! As for having kids at a show like that, well that is what parents will have to explain to little billy and little sally. People 'HUMP' it's how you were made.
They should have just taken to the nearest port-a-potty or bathroom, but they didnt. They would have gotten away with it, had the guy not let someone else hurt his feelings. Lesson learned, there is no sex in the champagne room.
At least they weren't a a Columbian brothel.
i would a federal law enforcement official to OBEY THE LAWS. I regret mr macho border patrol didn't get his clock cleaned by the individual he punched. I hope he is prosecuted for MANY crimes this act falls under.
Well lets think a minute Jim. Do Walmart employees carry firearms and have the authotity to arrest people on a whim? Aside from your biias to ignore the fact that these 2 people are considered "better and more truthful"people than the rest of us 2nd class citizens when testifying in court, I think we should expect better behavior from them as well in public
Amused, the story read the girl punched somebody out.
Of course not, because I'm not the grocery store owner and I don't pay for the cashier's salary. Private employees are subject to the discretion of their employeer, public employees are subject to the discretion of the taxpayers who are their employers. Also, cashiers aren't responsible for maintaining security for the border of a nation. I find it sickening that people are willing to give them a free pass. No wonder our government is spiraling out of control.
Off the clock and drunker than a skunk!!
So right, K-Man.
In this era of high unemployment the Federal government doesn't have to just take whatever low types it can get.
These two with their evident alcohol problems never should have been allowed to put on the uniform in the first place. And that's apart from their repugnant sexual "customs". They need to be separated from the Border Patrol pronto.
Nhtaol, amused123-1848476, Kman
You gentlemen absolutely, 100% get it. Those who rule us, those who police us and those who profess to represent god, must display better character and judgement than us.
I really wonder about the super morons who think a crime committed by a federal agent is the same thing as a crime committed by anyone else.
And these dimwits vote ?
Since you ask. The connection would be that their behavior calls into question the judgment of the two agents involved - something that I would think would be important in the performance of their official duties.
Correct, Kanjaji though they'll say they never would have done it if they'd been sober.
It's not all that hard to screen out problem drinkers in the hiring process. The Exxon-Mobil company has been doing it ever since its experience with Hazelwood and the Exxon Valdez.
They were NOT on duty at the time. Makes me feel safer. Obviously underpaid as well, can't afford a place private enough for sex. At least their sex will not result in any children. Thank God for small favors.
Have you priced a ticket to cirque du soleil lately? Motel 6 is a hell of a lot cheaper.
What the female agent said at the start of the show?
Federal law enforcement agents are supposed to be law abiding at all times i.e. 24/7. That is the condition of employment for federal law enforcement officers. As a federal law enforcement agent you are still a law enforcement agent even if you are not on duty just like police officers. You cannot just hang up your badge after your shift and go and do drugs or engage in offenses against the law including misdemeanors. Your willful misconduct or questionable behavior involving misdemeanors or other violations would raise questions about your character, integrity and suitability to successfully exercise the high public trust of a law enforcement agent in carrying out discretionary duties. This is why law enforcement positions require a higher standard of conduct to follow all the laws not just some laws. These jobs are not your regular blue collar or white collar kinds of jobs where you can do what you want “off the clock.”
Google Kallie Helwig.
She's a babe.
Mmmmm, not so much.
Alright... "babe" might be a little much.
But I'd still hit it.
10 to 1 she'll hit you back.
I wouldn't even consider pushing her away (unless I'm at the Cirque du Soleil).
I guess the whole thrill of it was because it was in public, for some that is the whole turn on.
I would do her...
I'll tap it
I'd hit that, AND she hits back. Wow! Good luck Kallie
You guys! Tsk.
Two point scale is all you need.
One point if it's okay by me.
One point if it's okay with her.
People need to under that the Democrats are in control of the country. Strange sexual acts, murder, violence, and drug use are their norm. If you don't like abnormal sex acts, don't like killings, and don't like violence you might put your Democrat in jail instead of office.
Grow up, lady!
Oral sex is abnormal? Phew, bet your husband is really a happy guy.
And I'm sure that's only 1 of the reasons.
That is definitely a stretch to say "the democrats are in charge of this country. That is just giving up all personal responsibility.
In the words of John McEnroe, you cannot be serious!
Oral sex is not an abnormal sex act, but rather an organic form of birth control. Not being condoned by the Catholic church does not make it wrong.
As a matter of fact, after you put your Democrat in jail, you should elect your local Catholic priest in office. That's the only sure way to know there won't be any strange sexual acts taking place! Even better - we should deputize the priests that we didn't not elect in office and have them patrol the streets of America - fighting the War On Strange Sexual Acts!
LOL
Nice try, Jamie, but you don't even get a cigar wrapper.
Is oral sex between a heterosexual couple more abnormal than a sitting republican senator playing footsie with a man in the boys room or the republican congressman who was anti gay but turned out to be a gay pedophile? Gosh must be a closed society living in the trailer park
You're going to blame the Democrats for these two peoples behavior?? Really?? These two people should never have let it go that far. My goodness it was a family gathering.And it doesn't matter what kind of job you hold it should be a moral self respect to not perform acts of this nature in public. Seriously they were both old enough to know better.Do your thing before you go out in public. Shame on both of you. SMH
so ......what's happening in Europe ? they got that Euro problem solved yet ?
Yeah, it's much better to do it the Republican way...in an airport public restroom, etc.
Of course democrats are the only ones who perform public sex acts all the while being applauded by the democratic officials running the cities.....rolls eyes. Some of you peoples way of thinking is so bizzare i'm surprised you're not wrapping your head in a turban screaming to kill all the infidels.
See what happens when you don't mind your own business.....you get smacked in the face lol
That's right, keep your finger out my puddin'....or you get KNOCKED THE F*CK OUT!!!
Considering their boss and her boss, why is any of this a surprise?
Bill Clinton just weighed in. "He did not have sex with that woman in that tent".
Inane.
Janet Napolitano gives BJs to Obama? Is that what you're saying? I didn't think he'd sink that low.
nosferatu-499026
I don't think any man would find Janet Napolitano enticing enough to have any form of sex with her. LOL
Wow Nibor... Obama's fault? Really? No problem, plenty of room on my "ignore" list for blinded partisan morons like you.
Has to, she's short.
Really? He high fived a kid while getting a BJ? I can't believe that....or don't want to believe it....The whole situation is wrong...lol...but a high five??? Common!
Yes, deserves at least 10
That part I HAD to laugh at.
That could probably not be confirmed about the kid, FLUFF (yes, pun intended) to make the story more saucy.
Hell of a recruiting tool. "mommy, i wanna be a border patrol agent when i grow up..."
"The private sector is doing just fine"
Its the "government" sector we should be worried about.
Somebody's private sector was doing pretty fine...
Here's what I don't understand... One of the off-duty agents physically assaulted another person yet was only cited for "misdemeanor battery"? Why weren't they charge with felony assault?
Either something's missing from the report about what really happened, or there was some leniency granted to the agent because they're an agent.
Punching someone one time or a couple of times is a misdemeanor. Beating the crap out of someone (and seiously injuring or attempting to seriously injure them) would be a felony. I don't see anything in the story that would justify a felony charge against the agent.
Bill Clinton just weighed in. "He did not have sex with that woman in that tent".
He high-fived the kid as he was getting a bj! That's just great!! Smooth !! LOL
Seriously, I don't see how is this news worthy. I bet it happens everyday in a dark theater / circus tent near you.
The unfortunate thing is that they'll lose their jobs due to this "news report" - I think border patrol agents have some sort of clause in their contract that they have to be respectful and basically not shame the department. It's total bull of course, but it will probably be applied to those two.
About a year back, there was a guy on radio - he got fired from the border patrol, because he told his colleague that he disagrees with the war on drugs. He was overheard and fired for it.
The border patrol department is Nazi when it comes to their employees...
So you are defending the discretion and judgment of these two people?
If you carry a gun and are paid by my tax dollars- you should be required to have good sound judgment and a high level discretion. These two definitely proved thay have neither. sad you would run to their defense.
They didn't do anything wrong while on duty. They did not do anything that affects their ability to do their jobs. They have not compromised their integrity. Or do you suppose public employees should be saints?
Obviously, they have to be punished, but one bad judgement does not mean they have to be fired. If they do get fired, it will be because of he publicity, not what they did. Which is even worst in my opinion.
who frickin cares isn't there more important news out there? lol of course i read it i think it is hilarious how it becomes political and religious when it is actually two people intoxicated no doubt and went with what they were feeling at the time i mean doesn't the circus make you all horney? lmao
sorry Lib.
If a personwere applying for a job that would require to enforce laws and possibly carry a gun and you told them that you got drunk this year and had sex in front of children and smack someone at the circus right afterwards- should that person be hired?
I bet you have a different opinion when a conservative you don't like gets caught doing something stupid and illegal in public.
wow....
You are a hypocrite. You charge that I'm showing political bias, but how do you know the offenders were not conservatives? It would be logical - most people in the military and law enforcement tend to lean to the right. It seems you just assume something like this must be the work of a liberal, right?
I don't see what getting drunk and carrying a gun has to do with anything. The article does not mention anything about either of those.
The only valid argument you have is what should be the behavior of law enforcement agents. As I said before, this indiscretion does not reflect on how they do their jobs, neither affects their ability to carry it out. Unlike habitual drunkenness for example.
The media is just sensationalizing the news to attract readers.
Liberal, they are supposed to be law enforcement officers. The Public Trust is what is important here. We have law enforcement offers allegedly having sex in public in front of children (or at least minors) and then an assault. If this is what happened, I don't think our tax dollars should pay them to carry a gun and enforce any laws.
If she's an "under cover" agent, that's one thing, but doing a porn act in a public theater is nuts. Didn't she know she should not "blow" her cover in public?
your comment is just like her. it blows.
Some day some one will make a move entitled "Black man in white-house". Then all the silly headlines will find their way into the "big-lights" of HOLLYWOOD. Until then just keep it coming!
Yes, cause Bush pretty much took all the scary headlines. Patriot Act enacted. War with Iraq. The list goes on.
Mike,
I take it from your comment that your expectation is for the president of the united states to follow each individual civil servants as they go about their business to make sure they don't do anything inappropriate.
What a moronic comment to make.
Jim, what is moronic is everyone's (republican) reaction to Obama's race. How else could your explain it? I also find that your thinking that my comment is moronic and you get 3 people to agree with you and all of you totally miss my point is hilarious! Take the comment for what it is. The truth!
If you can not wait and have to show everyone around you that you are having sex, then you are an exhibitionist and get off on it.
These people are as sick as pedophiles as they want kids to see them. So I hope this goes on their record as such and they can never hold a government job again.
Absolutely.
It is disgusting how many posts here condone their behavior. It's not JUST about the fact that they are border agents - what they did was indecent, no matter their jobs, their ages, race, political views, or whatever other trivial matter someone wants to use to defend them. They engaged in public indecency - period. And anyone who believes otherwise and supports them is every bit as mentally disturbed as they are.
BFDReally, you should seek counseling.
The fact that they are border patrol agents is no more relevant than if they were candlestick makers.
were they? candelstick makers?
Do you realize they next day these two people who have such poor judgment were probably carrying guns? and enforcing laws? hmmmm
Read more carefully, mojo: "Presently, the two employees in question have been assigned administrative duties.”
I think it is relevant that they are federal employees. Those jobs are very secure and come with a lot of serious benefits. In return for that, their contract states that they are not to act in such a way that places the department in a negative light, even while off duty. Therefore, they violated the terms of their job and compromised the U.S. in the process.
When the ruling "goes down", he'll be fired and she'll get a big promotion.
probably head of some department, likely under cover. Next time, though, I hope she does not blow her cover in public. Come to think of it, she will probably get a desk job.
He'll get off, but I'm not so sure about her. :)
That just adds to the excitement of it. Getting caught. Well, they got theirs, that's all that matters! These are the kinds of idiots that patrol our borders. No wonder there is so much agent brutality and murders of the illegals. They hire psychotic thugs to police the rest of us! I love Doug Heffernan's description of this circus!
Sex at the circus. New meaning to ephing clowns.
Cirque du Soleil wasn't the only one pitching a tent.
I hope she accepts my Facebook friend request. I've never been to Cirque du Soleil, and I'd really like to go.
American women, often possessing a 'butch' or 'Janet Reno' appearance, are just jealous that so many men find women in cabal situations like that attractive.
HA HA, and people are complaining about GAYS threatening the scantily of marriage and morals. BRAAAAAAHHHHHWWWWWWHAAAAAAHAAAA
who said they were married - or not Gay?