Mission Chase Nets Immigrants, Smuggler (KGBT4 - TX)

Mission Chase Nets Immigrants, Smuggler
Updated: March 6, 2008 09:46 AM
Reported by Victor Castillo

A chase, an accident and the arrest of several undocumented immigrants is how Mission police and Border Patrol agents spent Wednesday morning.

The incident started in Mission where a the driver of a van got into a chase with Mission police causing an accident near Military Road and Conway Avenue.

Mission Police Lt. Martin Garza said Border Patrol agents joined in the chase which ended off West Military Highway and South Shary Road.

Seven to eight immigrants fled the van but were rounded up by Border Patrol agents.

Gerardo Sanchez said one of them was startled to find one of them hiding inside the utility room of his uncle's bar.

"I work here for my uncle," Sanchez told Action 4 News. "I came in here, opened the door to get a broom and he was hiding behind the door."

That's when Gerardo called officers across the street and they arrested the Reynosa immigrant.

The man hiding in the utility room told Action 4 News that he illegally crossed into the U.S. looking for a job.

He was just one member of the group riding on a minivan that caused an accident on Conway where two adults and two children suffered minor injuries.

"Mission police department has two individuals in custody who we believe one might be the driver," Lt. Garza said.

The driver could be facing charges of failing to stop and render aid while Border Patrol investigates the smuggling operation.