Thread: Previously Deported Illegal Alien Allegedly Killed Prom Teen

Previously Deported Illegal Alien Allegedly Killed Prom Teen


Photo: Harris County Police Reporter/Scott Engle

by BOB PRICE16 May 2016

The man that Houston police say was driving drunk and evading arrest when he crashed into a car, killing a young woman on her way home from the prom, is listed by federal officials as a previously deported illegal alien.

Breitbart Texas has learned that Edin Palacios-Rodas, a 27-year-old previously deported illegal alien from Guatemala, has now had an immigration detainer placed on him after being processed into the Harris County Jail on one count of felony murder and one county of felony evading resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Officials with the Houston office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations confirmed that Palacios illegally re-entered the United States after being deported in 2013.

ON Sunday, Breitbart Texas reported that Palacios allegedly led police on a short high-speed chase after members of the Houston Police Departments DWI Task Force observed him running over a center divider while making a U-Turn. The chase ended when Palacios allegedly ran a red light and crashed his pickup truck into a Dodge Charger driven by 18-year-old Moises Avila. The driver of the Charger was critically injured and had to be transported to the hospital after being cut out of the twisted wreckage.

His passenger, and prom date, was 18-year-old Jacelyn Valero. She was pronounced dead at the scene as it appeared her side of the car bore the brunt of the impact.
Palacios initially tried to run away from the scene after crawling out of his mangled pickup truck. He was quickly tackled by wrecker drivers and police, according to Harris County Police Reporter’s Scott Engle who arrived on the scene seconds after the crash.

Palacios spent Sunday in the hospital. He had sustained minor injuries in the crash he allegedly caused. He was booked into the Harris County Jail on Monday morning, jail records obtained by Breitbart Texas confirmed.

He is currently being held without bond on the two felony charges. Other charges including Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle could also be filed for the injuries sustained by Avila. A DUI charge has also not yet been filed.

http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2016/...led-prom-teen/

Thursday, May 19, 2016 04:51PM

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The lawyer for suspected drunk driver Edin Palacios, Emily Detoto, discussed details of the deadly prom night crash today that killed a teenager on her way home from the prom recently.
Driver awaits hearing on deadly prom night crash charges

"He was very remorseful, he was very confused about the process," she said.

Defense attorney Detoto says her 26-year-old client is sorry about the crash that killed 18-year-old Jocelynn Valero on her prom night, as he tried to escape being pulled over by Houston Police.

"He's presumed innocent and we plan on pleading not guilty," said Detoto.

The attorney claims officers could have opted for a less aggressive approach in pursuing Palacios, and if they wanted to arrest him they likely already had his license plate and description.

"Someone has to die before we can address the issue of aggressive police chases," she said.

Palacios is on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold, which means his immigration status in question, but Detoto cautions against giving that detail too much weight.

"His immigration status has nothing to do with his guilt or innocence in this case," she said.

Detoto also says her client is a construction worker that had just received a promotion, and she is not aware of any criminal history. She says a bond has not yet been set for him because he appeared before a visiting judge.

Palacios is charged with murder and evading arrest.

Houston Police say Palacios was running from police when his pickup truck struck the car carrying Valero and her prom date.

Valero died at the scene of the violent crash, while her date was transported the hospital for surgery. He survived the wreck along with Palacios, who only had minor injuries.

http://abc13.com/news/lawyer-discuss...crash/1345781/

"He's presumed innocent and we plan on pleading not guilty," said Detoto.

The attorney claims officers could have opted for a less aggressive approach in pursuing Palacios, and if they wanted to arrest him they likely already had his license plate and description.

The "let's blame the police" defense seems to be getting pretty popular these days.

by BOB PRICE
22 May 2016
257 comments

HOUSTON, Texas — The attorney for an previously deported illegal alien who allegedly killed a teenage girl and critically injured her date while he was fleeing from police blames police for the death of the teen. She also says his immigration status is of no consequence in this case.

Edin Palacios was observed driving drunk in the early morning hours of May 14, police say. When the officers attempted to stop the pickup truck after it ran over a curb while making a U-turn, the drive pulled over and the took off after the police officer got out of his car, Breitbart Texas previously reported. Following a short chase that quickly went to very high speeds, the truck, allegedly driven by Palacios, reportedly ran a red light and plowed into a Dodge Charger driven by 18-year-old Moises Avila. His passenger, and prom date, Jocelyn Valero was killed in the crash and Avila was critically injured. Breitbart Texas first reported the news that Palacios was a previously deported illegal alien from Guatemala.


Jocelyn Valero and her prom date Moises Avila pose before leaving on their prom date. (Family photo)

Palacios’s attorney now claims the police are at fault for trying to stop her client from driving drunk. She also claimed his immigration status is not a factor in the case.

In an interview with KTRK’s Elissa Rivas, Houston defense attorney Emily Detoto said police should have used a less aggressive approach in pursuing her client when he fled from police while allegedly driving drunk. She claimed that if they wanted to arrest him, they likely already had his license plate and description.

As a defense attorney, Detoto is certainly aware that pursuing a DWI prosecution would be nearly impossible if they simply allowed him to go home and then went to his home to make the arrest. She is also likely aware of the danger to the public and liability on police if they allowed the man to continue to drive while drunk during the 15 mile drive to his home in northwest Houston.

Her remarks also ignore the fact that he police chase lasted only a couple of minutes before Palacios blasted through the red light and allegedly killed Ms. Valero.

“Every five or so years we come to the same issue of police chases,” Detoto told the Houston reporter, “and unfortunately someone ends up having to die before we can address the issue of aggressive police chases.”

Detoto’s client is an illegal alien who was previously deported from the U.S. in 2013, Breitbart Texas previously reported. Officials with U.S. Customs and Immigration’s Enforcement Removal Operation confirmed this to Breitbart Texas on May 16.

The defense attorney claims his immigration status is of no consequence in this case. She ignores the fact that the man should not even be in this country, let alone driving a vehicle without a license, or insurance. Texas law does not allow an illegal alien to obtain a driver license.

She went on to claim that Palacios is a construction worker who recently received a promotion at the company where he works.

“People tend to jump to conclusions about someone’s guilt or innocence based upon their immigration status,” Detoto said. “But, in reality, his immigration status has nothing to do with his guilt or innocence in this case.”


Edin Palacios mugshot. (Photo: Harris County Sheriff’s Office)

His guilt will be determined by the police video evidence of Palacios allegedly driving his truck away from police after being stopped and leading them on a short, but high=speed chase. The video will likely show Palacios’ truck running the red light and striking the Dodge Charger broadside in the passenger door where Valero was sitting seconds before being crushed by the truck. It will also be determined by the video showing the man attempting to flee again on foot after the crash only to be tackled by wrecker drivers and police. And, it will be determined by blood-alcohol tests administered at the hospital where Palacios was taken for his injuries in the crash.

All of that is complicated by the fact that Palacios had no business being in this country or driving a truck because he had been previously deported. Detoto is wrong that police are to blame for the death of this young girl and the serious injuries to her prom date. The blame for the crash lies solely on Palacios who apparently chose to re-enter the United States after being deported and who apparently chose to drive a pickup truck without a license while drunk, and who apparently chose to flee from police to avoid responsibility for his chain of irresponsible and illegal actions.

It is also the fault of an open border policy that allows illegal aliens to re-enter this country at will after being deported. Every week, Breitbart Texas reports on crimes committed by previously deported illegal aliens or the capture of violent criminals and sex offenders who re-enter the country after being deported.

Detoto claimed her client was “very remorseful” and is “very confused about the process.”

http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2016/...blames-police/