11 taken to U.S. Border Patrol, one arrested after vehicle chase on I-37

11 taken to U.S. Border Patrol, one arrested after vehicle chase on I-37

By Michelle Villarreal
Posted March 26, 2012 at 12:56 p.m., updated March 26, 2012 at 1:12 p.m.

CORPUS CHRISTI — Eleven people were taken into custody and one was arrested Sunday after a vehicle chase on U.S. Highway 37.

About 9:20 p.m. Corpus Christi Police saw a white 1996 Chevy Suburban traveling north in the 3900 block of U.S. Highway 37 and change lanes without a turn signal, according to a news release.

The Suburban then drove to the center of the road and straddle the center stripes, which did not let vehicles to pass.

The officer tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver of the Suburban fled. Several officers were called to the chase and finally stopped the vehicle with a tire deflation system. Twelve people ran out of the vehicle and were captured by law enforcement, police said.

Eleven of the people were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody. Paul Benavides, 44, is being held at the Nueces County Jail on suspicion of evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, a felony, and evading arrest or detention, a misdemeanor, on $6,000 bail.

11 taken to U.S. Border Patrol, one arrested after vehicle chase on I-37 » Corpus Christi Caller-Times