Traffic stop turns into rescue mission
By Kevin Buey Headlight Staff
Posted: 06/08/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT


What authorities believed was no more than a pursuit of a speeding driver became a rescue mission Friday night in Hidalgo County when sheriff's deputies found four illegal immigrants hiding in the trunk of 1996 Dodge Stratus.

A 40-year-old Tucson man was arrested by Grant County Sheriff's Deputies, and the U.S. Border patrol took custody of four illegal immigrants.

The incident took place in Hildago County, but involved a chase by GCSO Deputies, working in Hildago County under Operation Stonegarden, a federally-funded project in which law enforcement in the border area works with the U.S. Border Patrol.

Two of the illegal immigrants were treated at Gila Regional Medical Center, in Silver City, for minor injuries and dehydration, then returned to USBP custody. The other two were taken into custody at the scene but required no medical attention.

The incident began at about 11 p.m. Friday when GCSO Deputies tried to stop Shannon R. Gray, 40, who was traveling northbound at a high rate of speed on Highway 80. Gray failed to yield and continued northbound in the direction of Interstate 10, westbound from Roadforks. He ultimately lost control of his car, which came to a stop against a fence on I-10.

Lt. Michael Aguirre, with the GCSO, said deputies were on a traffic stop when the Stratus passed them, riding low to the pavement. Deputies initially suspected the car might be carrying a drug load or other contraband, and pursued the car. They reached speeds of 85 to 87 miles an hour in a 60 mph zone, before the Stratus left the road.

Gray was charged by the GCSO with speeding, aggravated fleeing and reckless driving, and faces federal charges from the U.S. Attorney's office for illegally transporting immigrants across the border.

A 27-year-old man and three women - ages 19, 26 and 30 - were in the car's trunk. A USBP Agent arrived from Lordsburg to take custody of the illegal immigrants.

High temperatures over the weekend ranged 100 to 110 in the El Paso Sector, which includes all of New Mexico. Night temperatures were as high as 70 in some areas.

This latest smuggling incident, the USBP says, is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by smuggling organizations to unsuspecting migrants. Border residents are being warned about the dangers posed by reckless smuggling organizations that are known to place migrants in precarious situations, including walking persons for long distances through remote desert terrain, and hiding migrants in various vehicle conveyances where the temperatures become extreme.

USBP Agents are trained in emergency medical care, and search and rescue are on the lookout for migrants in distress in remote desert areas, hidden compartments of vehicles and for those in distress from swimming across irrigation canals. In fiscal year 2009, the number of El Paso Sector deaths of migrants decreased to five, compared to eight in fiscal 2008 and 25 in fiscal 2007.


Kevin Buey can be reached at kbuey@demingheadlight.com.

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