Five Illegal Immigrants Caught in Kleberg County Bailout
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Manuel De La Rosa

Story Created: Mar 31, 2010 at 6:27 PM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 31, 2010 at 6:28 PM CDT


KINGSVILLE--A pursuit that law officers began in Jim Wells County ended today with a bailout of illegal immigrants in Kleberg County. They were able to catch five of the seven people in the vehicle.

Officers were patrolling on Highway 281 near Premont when they tried to pull over a truck, but the driver wouldn't stop and bailed out before authorities were about to stop them in their tracks.

"Fortunately when the vehicle came to where I was, I guess they saw my spikes and they bailed out," said Capt. Joe Martinez of the Jim Wells County Sheriff's Department.

Officers got into a chase when this truck came back stolen out of Harris County. The driver sped down Highway 281 and then jumped on Highway 141 in Kleberg County

When they bailed out, officers caught four illegal immigrants from El Salvador. They found a fifth illegal from the same country in a nearby field after authorities responded to the call.

"Because the way the vegetation is right now, we were able to track them down out in the open field," Capt. Martinez said. "So with the assistance of Kleberg County, we were able to apprehend some of the people. Our officer was able to detain four before they jumped that fence."

A human smuggler and one of the illegals got away into the brush area. A DPS helicopter was brought in to search the area but they weren't found. The five illegal immigrants caught were turned over to Border Patrol for deportation.

Officers report these illegal immigrants crossed the border in Reynosa near McAllen and were travelling from the Rio Grande Valley. They were on their way to Houston.

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