Traffic stop turns wild (Seguin Gazette Enterprise)

Traffic stop turns wild
Chase ends with 15-21 suspected illegal immigrants fleeing
Posted: Friday, May 20, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 11:22 pm, Thu May 19, 2011.
Felicia Frazar

SEGUIN — A Thursday morning traffic stop turned into a chase that ended when 15-21 people bailed from a pickup truck and scattered.

Seguin Police Patrol Lt. Jim Boeck said the truck took off when K9 Officer Mark Zuazua attempted to pull it over for a traffic violation.

The pursuit started around mile marker 612 on Interstate 10 around 8:30 a.m., Boeck said.

"It exited 10 and took Highway 90 East to Gravel Pit Road in Kingsbury," he said. "There the truck ran through a fence and into a gravely area."

That's where the truck stopped and the occupants ran, Boeck said.

"We are hearing there were 15-21 people in the truck," he said. Two of those were females - one in her 20s, the other a juvenile.

Guadalupe County Sheriff's Deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers aided in the pursuit and apprehension of the suspects.

"Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was called and the seven that were captured were turned over to them," he said.

Boeck said the people would likely be processed and taken back to their country of origin.

One of those captured was taken to Guadalupe Regional Medical Center for treatment of a minor injury, Boeck said.

Officers learned the truck being used had been illegally obtained and was modified for the transportation of illegal immigrants, Boeck said.

"It is a four-door, 2004 Chevy pickup that was reported stolen from Austin on April 17," he said. "The back seat had been removed to make room for all of the people. They do this type of thing all the time."