Border Patrol agent dragged in Brownsville smuggling incident

by Sergio Chapa


Posted: 06.01.2011 at 5:49 PM

Sergio Chapa

Two brothers are facing criminal charges after a human smuggling incident where a Border Patrol agent was dragged for several yards just outside Brownsville.

Border Patrol agents arrested Gabriel Medel on human smuggling charges early Tuesday morning.

It all started near the Rio Grande River in an area just of east of Brownsville around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A human smuggling suspect took off in a Jeep dragging a Border Patrol agent for several yards and led authorities.

The agent received minor injuries and was released from a local hospital.

Court records show that the driver of the jeep lead authorities on a chase on parts of Southmost Road and later Boca Chica Boulevard.

The driver of jeep abandoned the SUV near Iowa Road where authorities detained two immigrants from Guatemalans and one immigrant from India at the scene.

Investigators found paperwork belonging to Medel’s brother Luis Medel in the jeep and went to their apartment in Brownsville.

Gabriel Medel answered the door and let Border Patrol agents search the apartment where authorities found three immigrants from Mexico and one from Sri Lanka inside.

Court records show that Gabriel Medel and three of the illegal immigrants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Felix Recio in Brownsville on Wednesday morning.

Judge Recio denied bond for Gabriel Medel until a Friday morning hearing and gave the immigrants $5,00 dollar bonds.

Border Patrol agents have filed charges against Luis Medel but it’s not clear if he’s been arrested. Records show that he has not made an appearance in court.

http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=624978