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Nightmare in Mexico
Texas border vacation turns into
costly ordeal for Limestone deputy


By Holly Hollman
DAILY Staff Writer
hhollman@decaturdaily.com · 340-2445

ATHENS — A local lawman has learned about life on the other side of the badge.

Being told not to talk. Spending 12 hours without a drink. Not going to the restroom.

Limestone County Sheriff's Department Deputy Chad Smith said because of that experience, he'll never again cross the Mexican border.

Smith and his friend Jason Sherman went to Texas on vacation at the end of February and first of March. They spent the last day of that vacation in custody.

News of their ill-fated trip made its way through Limestone County as slow as a Sunday driver, and as the story spread, the versions became more outlandish.

'They were being extorted for money'

"To hear it told, they did just about everything illegal you can imagine," Sheriff Mike Blakely said, "when really, they were being extorted for money."

Smith said Sherman drove them across the border in his 2006 Silverado worth about $30,000.

"When we'd go through checkpoints, we'd ask if it was OK for us to go on, and they just kept motioning for us to go," Smith said.

The two spent the night and visited various Mexican cities. The last day of vacation, they drove toward Chihuahua. That's when Smith, who works in patrol, got to see what it's like to spot a cop car in the rearview mirror.

"Jason got pulled over for speeding, but the officer didn't even have a radar detector," Smith said. "I don't think we were speeding. We had trouble communicating with him. He wanted us to follow him."

Blakely said Smith called his cell phone and asked whether they should follow the Mexican officer. Blakely advised them they should.

"Turns out they didn't have a visa to go into the interior of Mexico," Blakely said. "That didn't help."

Smith said the officer took them to an immigration office, where an official who spoke English told them police just wanted to ensure the truck wasn't stolen.

"We were told this would take 30 to 40 minutes," Smith said. "We were also told we'd have to get a medical check for some reason. We were taken to a guy who claimed he was a doctor, then we went to some holding facility to wait while they did their investigation."

Half an hour's wait turned into 12 hours during which Smith and Sherman couldn't drink water, go to the restroom or talk to each other. The authorities found Smith's badge but decided it was a fake.

"A guy who was like a district attorney came and said it would be $6,000 for us to get out," Smith said. "When he came back, that figure went up to $50,000, plus they got to keep Jason's truck."

When Smith reminded the district attorney the first figure he gave was $6,000, the district attorney said, 'Well, now it's $50,000 and the $6,000.' "

Smith asked authorities if he could call his father about raising the money, but he called Blakely instead.

"He wanted to know if he should get his father to raise the money. I said, 'That's bull. They're just trying to get money out of you,' " Blakely said.

The sheriff called U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, who worked with the consulate to free Smith and Sherman.

"The consulate said the officers were being unreasonable, and that this happens frequently with Americans who drive past the border towns without getting their paperwork in order," Blakely said.

Smith said once the consulate got involved, authorities released him. Sherman had to pay what the authorities called "a $4,000 appearance bond," Smith said, and leave his new truck behind. Authorities drove them to the immigration office. There, an official got a taxi to take them to the airport.

"Even if I hadn't known how to get in touch with the sheriff, I probably would have gotten released because I wasn't driving," Smith said. "Jason, however, probably would have been sent to their version of a federal prison because if you don't pay whatever bond they name within 48 hours, that's where they send you."

Smith said Sherman is working with his insurance company to see if it will cover the loss of his truck. The truck had OnStar, a vehicle security system on certain models of General Motors vehicles.

"GM has tried to get a signal, but there's nothing," Smith said. "I'm sure the authorities there have already disabled it."

Blakely said others should learn a lesson from Smith and Sherman's misadventure and research what documentation is needed when crossing the border.

According to the U.S. Department of State's travel page, Americans do not have to have a visa or a tourist card for stays of 72 hours or less within the border zone. That is an area between 20 to 30 kilometers of the border. Citizens traveling as tourists beyond the border zone or entering Mexico by air must pay a fee to obtain a tourist card, also known as an FM-T. Those are available from Mexican consulates, Mexican border crossing points, Mexican tourism offices, airports within the border zone and most airlines serving Mexico.

With the exception of travel to the Baja Peninsula, tourists who travel beyond the border zone with their car must obtain a temporary import permit or risk having their car confiscated by Mexican customs officials.

Smith said he has better advice for potential tourists.

"I don't recommend going to border towns," Smith said. "I don't recommend crossing the border at all. I'll never go back again."