Arizona Governor Doug Ducey held a news conference in Tucson today to highlight recent actions by his now-three-year-old Border Strike Force, but left the presser after about seven minutes.
Ducey left abruptly just as DPS Director Frank Milstead finished his remarks. He refused to answer questions from reporters in the room, running to his motorcade.
Moments after Ducey left, Milstead also left without taking questions.
Reporters scramble after Colonel Frank Milstead, Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Governor Doug Ducey, left without taking questions following a press conference about a recent series methamphetamine seizures by the Arizona Border Strike Force at the DPS headquarters on September 17, 2018 in Tucson, AZ.
A spokesperson told reporters that Milstead had a previous appointment in Phoenix in about an hour and could not talk to reporters.
Pressed on how Milstead was going to make his appointment on time, the spokesman refused to elaborate, but angrily ruled out the possibility that the Director would be using a DPS helicopter.
In a news advisory last week, the DPS touted the appearance of Ducey — in his official capacity as governor — to discuss recent drug seizures by the Arizona Border Strike Force. Ducey's campaign has said in campaign ads that his opponent, Democrat David Garcia, wants to eliminate the task force.
About the drug busts: DPS notes it seized 224.9 pounds of methamphetamine and one pound of fentanyl during three separate traffic stops.
Those seizures, according to Border Patrol's news releases aren't new. The first seizure occurred Sept. 8. The latest seizure was on Sept. 12.
A Ducey campaign spokesperson last week said that the Tucson press conference was an official event and was not related to Ducey's campaign.
