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Three suspected illegals arrested in DeRidder after refusing to leave store

Published: Tuesday, October 3, 2006 7:49 AM CDT


DERIDDER - Sometimes it doesn't pay to be a fussy customer. Three men, one from New Jersey and two from Texas, were arrested on drug-related charges and held by the U.S. Border Patrol as suspected illegal immigrants Friday night after refusing to leave a convenience store on the south end of DeRidder.

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 29, the Beauregard Parish Sheriff Department was advised of three suspicious subjects at a convenience store located on Hwy 171 south of DeRidder.

The caller stated that the three subjects would not leave the store and that the clerk was nervous. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the clerk who stated that the three males were in a van located adjacent to the store.

The deputies located, then approached the van and spoke with the driver who identified himself with a New Jersey ID card in the name of Leonel Pineda Corea, 10 Acme Place in Hillside, N.J.

The deputy observed two other subjects in the van who were later identified as Francisco Del Carmen Lanuza-Salgado, of 812 S. Virginia in Port Lavaca, Texas, and Rudi Francisco Lanuza-Urbina, of 12714 Drifting Winds Drive in Houston.

The deputies learned that none of the three had a valid driver's license in their possession. The three told varying stories about national origin, work and where they were going.

Eventually, the three gave deputies permission to search the van.

During the search of the van, deputies found a quantity of marijuana wrapped in plastic and hidden between the seat and seat back of the driver's side front of the vehicle.

All three were arrested for possession of marijuana.

The U.S. Border Patrol was contacted and they advised that the three were possibly in the United States illegally and a detainer was placed on them.

All three remained in the Beauregard Parish Jail pending the setting and posting of bond and a hold for the Border Patrol as of press time.

The investigating officers were Deputies Phillip Webb, M.H. Cooley and Darren Hall.