Man and woman lead BP agents on chase, abandon vehicle at border

Posted: Sep 21, 2009 12:13 PM CDT

Updated: Sep 21, 2009 06:44 PM CDT







by Anchor Veronique Masterson

SANTA TERESA, N.M. -- Border Patrol agents' attempts to stop suspected drug smugglers developed into a high-speed pursuit ending along the U.S.-Mexico border.

At about 9 a.m. Monday, U.S. Border Patrol officials said an agent tried to stop a vehicle along a desert road near the I-10 checkpoint west of Las Cruces.

Authorities said when the agent attempted to question the driver, the driver tried to run the vehicle over the agent, then sped off.

According to Border Patrol officials, the driver led law enforcement officers on I-10 East, zig-zagging along Highway 28, then again onto I-10, exiting at Artcraft and eventually turning onto Highway 9.

The suspects' SUV left Highway 9 and entered a dirt road. Two miles later, a man and woman jumped out of the vehicle, hopped over a fence and ran into the Mexican desert.

Officials said the two would have to walk six miles to get to the nearest house.

The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office, New Mexico State Police and El Paso County Sheriff's Office assisted with the pursuit that lasted about two hours.

It is not known how fast the vehicles were traveling during the pursuit. Authorities made several attempts to stop the SUV with spike strips as it traveled along highways and interstates.

Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier confirms that marijuana was found in the vehicle. However, he said officials had not determined how much was in the vehicle because a lot of it was thrown out of the vehicle during the pursuit.

Officials said agents often encounter these types of situations -- suspected smugglers who evade checkpoints.

"These are events that do occur out here, especially out in the desert areas you see vehicles that are constantly being gutted out, loaded with narcotics or whatever may be and driven across," Border Patrol agent Joe Romero said.

He said assaults against agents have increased in the past few years, "an average of about 30 percent each year for the last couple of years."

No one was hurt during the pursuit. The FBI is handling the investigation.




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