October 1, 2009

Stolen Vehicle Filled With Suspected Immigrants -

The Department of Public Safety, the United States Border Patrol and officers from Constable Precincts Three and Five all helped chase down the people inside a stolen vehicle outside of Bishop before noon Wednesday.

Officers said it all started when a county police officer saw the vehicle which he said looked suspicious.

"Our officer was on routine patrol on Fm 70," Chief Deputy Willie Vera with Constable Precinct Three said. "He spotted the vehicle...looked a little suspicious. The driver looked a little nervous."

Vera said the officer then ran the license plate of the vehicle, and found out it was stolen. That officer was told to get some back up.

"So at that point, he was advised by dispatch that not only was it a stolen vehicle," Vera said, "but also that the occupants may be armed and dangerous."

Police did end up finding ammunition but no weapons. That was after the vehicle finally came to a stop after it blew through a fence and got stuck in the mud.

"We found ammunition in the cab of the truck," Vera said. "There was ammunition for a 45, for a three-eighty and for a 12 gauge shotgun."

Vera said police were unsure if a smuggler could have the weapons to match the ammunition.

"We don't know at this point," Vera said, "because he has not been located."

Law enforcement did capture eight people from the vehicle. They were placed under the custody of U.S. Border Patrol.

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