Border Patrol arrests man after intentional crash

San Diego UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM

1:54 p.m. August 11, 2008

JAMUL – U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man and a group of suspected illegal immigrants after the driver intentionally crashed into an agent's vehicle Saturday night, officials said.

The agents spotted a Jeep Grand Cherokee about 9 p.m. and tried to pull the vehicle over, but the driver sped away erratically, prompting agents to end the chase, officials said.

Minutes later, agents spotted the Jeep parked on Ivanhoe Ranch Road near Cottonwood View Drive with its headlights off. Agents said they drove toward the Jeep to investigate when the Jeep's driver drove it toward them and crashed head-on into the patrol car. The driver then backed up the Jeep and crashed a second time into the agent's vehicle, officials said.
Both vehicles became disabled after the second crash.

Agents arrested eight men who were in the Jeep. The group is suspected of being Mexican nationals in the U.S. illegally.

Agents also arrested the Jeep's 28-year-old driver. He faces charges of alien smuggling and assault on a federal agent.

The agents were checked at a local hospital for minor injuries.

The Border Patrol said assaults on agents have increased this year. So far, agents have been assaulted 323 times in the first 10 months of the agency's 2008 fiscal year. In 2007, officials reported 254 assaults on agents.

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Breaking News Team: (619) 293-1010; breaking@uniontrib.com

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