Area police search for fleeing illegal immigrants
Group of as many as 22 fled from Live Oak Sheriff's officers near FM 623
By Stuart Duncan (Contact)
Originally published 12:46 p.m., June 3, 2008
Updated 12:46 p.m., June 3, 2008

The Live Oak County Sheriff’s Office is searching for as many as 19 illegal immigrants from Honduras Tuesday after they fled from police Monday afternoon, according to a county law enforcement official.

As many as 22 illegal immigrants were inside of or in the back of a Toyota four-door truck that rammed a county deputy’s patrol car and ran through a fence on Farm to Market Road 623 Monday, Live Oak County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Glenn Thompson said.

Thompson said county deputy Nick Chaviz was patrolling the area by himself and fired multiple shots — after the truck rammed the front of his patrol car — at the Toyota and hit the truck’s door and outside mirrors. He said no one was injured.

Thompson said the truck then crashed through the fence and the immigrants fled through a pasture. He said Chaviz chased them on foot and apprehended three — two males and one female.

Thompson said a three-person police search party is looking for the other illegal immigrants Tuesday, which may be using another vehicle. He said the immigrants had cell phones on them and may be receiving help to remain hidden from authorities.

He said the Texas Rangers are assisting in the investigation.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for the Live Oak County Sheriff’s Office, which was also involved in a high speed chase May 19 after a San Antonio man rammed into as many as six vehicles with his Toyota Four Runner, Thompson said. The man was eventually shot in the left calf (through the door of his vehicle) by a Live Oak County peace officer from Beeville, Doug Phillips, and apprehended by law enforcement authorities, he said.

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