Public safety: Man arrested on 347 for human smuggling (Maricopa Monitor)

Public safety: Man arrested on 347 for human smuggling
Staff reports
Published: Friday, October 21, 2011 11:08 AM MST

A Casa Grande man was arrested Monday night by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office on Arizona 347 for human smuggling.

Sheriff’s Office spokesman Elias Johnson said a deputy heading north on Arizona 347 observed two vehicles traveling in tandem at a high rate of speed around 7:45 p.m. Monday. The lead vehicle was a tan 2000 Lincoln LS and the second was a blue 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan. The deputy ran the license plates and both came back as operating with cancelled insurance. The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the lead vehicle at milepost 167. The car came to a stop and two Hispanic males fled into the desert. The driver and a passenger in the rear were apprehended. The second vehicle got away.

The driver was identified as Dominique Reggie Guillen, 18, of Casa Grande. Johnson said Guillen told the deputy he was only 17 years old, but MVD records confirmed he was 18. The passenger was identified as Gregoro Antonio Martinez-Diaz of Mexico. Martinez-Diaz was found to be in the country illegally and did not speak English.

Deputies searched both Guillen and Martinez-Diaz. Guillen was in possession of $1,256.60 and Martinez-Diaz was in possession of $2,750. Martinez-Diaz was turned over to U.S. Border Patrol agents for processing.

Guillen was booked into jail for human smuggling and unlawful transport of an illegal immigrant.