La Joya pursuits end with drugs seized, immigrants arrested

November 11, 2008 - 8:55PM
By Jared Taylor and Ana Ley, The Monitor

LA JOYA - Several people were injured and several hundred pounds of drugs were seized in connection with two car chases Tuesday.

The first occurred in the morning and ended when a pickup packed with a group of immigrants rolled over.

La Joya police responded about 7:10 a.m. Tuesday to a call about a suspicious vehicle loading suspected undocumented immigrants near Ebony Street and U.S. Highway 83 in La Joya, police Lt. Julian Gutierrez said.

Officers saw the driver of the Ford F-150 disregard a stop sign, and they pursued the truck along U.S. 83 from La Joya to Mission. The truck got off the highway at Bryan Road, where it rolled over near Mission Medical Center.

A total of 16 people from Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras were in the pickup's bed at the time of the rollover, Gutierrez said. Three immigrants evaded authorities and three others were taken to Mission Medical Center to receive treatment for their injuries.

The truck's driver is currently in police custody and likely will face federal and state charges, Gutierrez said.


DRUGS SEIZED

La Joya police also arrested a suspect who led them on an afternoon chase from La Joya to the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge.

Police tried to arrest the man on suspicion of driving with an illegally dark tint on the windows of his black F-150, officers said.

The man drove east on Expressway 83 from La Joya before heading south on Cage Boulevard in Pharr. Authorities stopped him by blocking off the bridge.

Police there were unable to immediately identify the driver, but they said at least 400 pounds of marijuana was seized.

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