Community Watch: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, GOLDEN VALLEY (The Daily News)

Community Watch
By The Daily News staff
Published: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 2:04 AM MDT

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, GOLDEN VALLEY — Joel Ortiz-Montano, 34, Salvador Pena-Gutierrez, 30, and Victor Islas, 33 were arrested Friday after Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies reportedly observed their vehicle traveling at 66 mph in a posted 45 mph zone. Deputies conducted a traffic stop at Shinarump Drive and Yavapai Road. Ortiz-Montano showed a Baja California driver’s license, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Trish Carter said. He reportedly fled the scene on foot after deputies, with the assistance of Border Patrol, determined him to be an illegal immigrant. A perimeter was established. The Arizona Department of Public Safety assisted with an aerial search while deputies conducted a ground search, Carter said. A Sheriff’s K-9 Unit also responded, and the dog pointed his handler to an area of tumbleweeds and sage brush. Deputies located Ortiz-Montano hiding under the tumbleweeds. Ortiz-Montano was taken into custody without further incident. Deputies contacted the other occupants of the vehicle, and Border Patrol determined both to be illegal immigrants. Pena-Gutierrez and Islas were taken into custody without incident. They were transported to the Mohave County Jail and later into Border Patrol custody. The vehicle was towed from the scene.