Arrested at the Border – Smuggling-Event Suspect Discovered Wanted for Homicide
PLASTER CITY – When El Centro Border Agents travelled behind a navy-blue Chevy Silverado truck at around 3:51 PM on May 17th, a reason to take a closer look became evident. While heading westbound toward Plaster City, near the area of Evan Hewes Road in El Centro, “Agents observed several individuals trying to conceal themselves in the bed of the truck,” said California
Border Patrol (CBP).
An immediate attempt to conduct a vehicle stop revealed the truck-driver making an attempt to evade. Driving north onto Juliet Road (an Off-Highway Vehicle road,) resulted in the truck getting stuck near Superstition Mountain.
Upon the complete stop – nine individuals scattered out of the truck bed, and attempted to flee on foot. A brief search successfully apprehended the nine fleeing truck-bed inhabitants, along with the driver.
“Agents determined that all ten individuals were undocumented and illegally present in the United States,” said CBP. “The driver and the nine individuals were placed under arrest and transported to the El Centro Sector’s Centralized Processing Center for further processing.”
During record checks for the nine absconders, a 26-year-old was ID’d with an active warrant for Homicide out of Orange County, CA. Extradition of the man will be conducted by Costa Mesa Police Department.
The 23-year-old undocumented driver from Mexico, awaiting his arraignment for alien smuggling, is in federal custody. The remainder of the fleeing individuals – one male from Guatemala and seven from Mexico – are being processed, to be removed from the U.S.
MISSION STATEMENT – U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.
