Thread: PA: Illegal immigrant stopped at DUI sobriety checkpoint

Illegal immigrant stopped at DUI sobriety checkpoint
By Mark Leberfinger and Amanda Clegg
POSTED: May 24, 2009

HOLLIDAYSBURG - Officers drew their weapons during an intense vehicle stop early Saturday at a Blair County DUI Task Force sobriety checkpoint.

The outcome: A suspected illegal immigrant was arrested for being in the United States and charged locally with stolen vehicle and driving under the influence charges.

Roberto Emanuel Vazquez-Aguilar, 20, of Columbia, Tenn., stole the vehicle at about 2:32 a.m. from a woman on the 2700 block of Fairway Drive, Altoona, police said. He asked the woman for a ride to Bedford before he stole the car.

The woman immediately called 911. Vehicle and suspect descriptions were broadcast to Blair County police officers.

Less than 10 minutes later, Vazquez-Aguilar was seen driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes on Route 36, just ahead of the DUI task force's checkpoint.

Greenfield Township Police Chief Ron Givler, one of the officers working the patrol, turned on the emergency lights of his patrol car and herded Vazquez-Aguilar into the checkpoint.

About 15 officers surrounded Vazquez-Aguilar's vehicle. One officer pointed his weapon at the suspect and yelled, "Stop the car!"

Vazquez-Aguilar obeyed the commands and stopped the car. He was taken into custody.

Altoona officers arrived at the parking lot of the Hollidaysburg Church of the Brethren and took Vazquez-Aguilar into custody.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was notified and issued a federal detainer against Vazquez-Aguilar. He also is charged with driving under the influence, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and drivers required to be licensed.

Magisterial District Judge Craig Ormsby arraigned Vazquez-Aguilar, who was committed to Blair County Prison on the detainer and in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

Saturday's arrest was the second time in four years that an illegal immigrant was stopped at the same checkpoint in Hollidaysburg.

www.altoonamirror.com

Throw the book at him! Where's the grand theft charge? Car Jacking charge?

Those cops stopped a disaster waiting to happen. Driving drunk going the wrong way... they deserve a standing ovation for saving lives. But by the time this goes to court I'm afraid some scum lawyer will be screaming "excessive force" because one office drew a weapon. Probably no one will look at it as this driver was in possession of a deadly weapon!

Good

So, is he doing a car jacking Americans won't do or innocently trying to support his family that is not separated even though they live in another country?

The outcome: A suspected illegal immigrant was arrested for being in the United States and charged locally with stolen vehicle and driving under the influence charges.

Roberto Emanuel Vazquez-Aguilar, 20, of Columbia, Tenn., stole the vehicle at about 2:32 a.m. from a woman on the 2700 block of Fairway Drive, Altoona, police said. He asked the woman for a ride to Bedford before he stole the car.

What was this nut really planning? If someone will steal from you they have very little value on your life, usually in a violent face off over being caught in the action of stealing.

This woman is very blessed in my opinion to be alive.

Hey....some lawyer will say we are profilling and "picking on him"...He needed to get to the other town......he couldn't walk...so what did you expect him to do.......