Thread: WV: Deputies Pursue Illegal Aliens

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Deputies Pursue Illegal Aliens

By MICHELLE BLUM



Photo by Michelle Blum
Three illegal aliens, from left, Bejamin Rodriguez Perez, 18; Enrique Rodriguez, 30; and Danielo Bocanegra, 28, who were arrested following a pursuit on McGraw’s Run Road, await transfer to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency at the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday.

WHEELING — Four Mexican nationals doing paving work in the area were taken into custody Wednesday after they were determined to be illegal aliens, according to Ohio County Sheriff Tom Burgoyne.

All four, including a 16-year-old boy, were turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, while the Pennsylvania company for which they were working will be reported to the West Virginia Department of Labor, Burgoyne said.

Wednesday’s arrests mark the second time in a month that illegal aliens were found working in the county. The first company, a Midlothian, Va., firm, is currently under investigation by the state labor department after illegal aliens were found installing cable television service in a housing development in the county.

Burgoyne said since May 2005, 80 illegal aliens have been arrested in Ohio County.

For Deputy John Haglock, who arrested the four Wednesday following a pursuit, the incident was his fourth or fifth.

Burgoyne, a strong opponent of the immigration service practice of releasing illegal aliens after processing, expressed concern over the alleged reckless operation of the vehicle during the pursuit.

“If someone would have been hurt, I would camp out on the White House lawn,” Burgoyne said.

“He could have hurt someone,” Haglock said of the 16-year-old driver. “He was crossing the double yellow line going up McGraws Run. ... If there was someone coming down McGraws Run, he could have killed them.”

Haglock further noted children normally play along the road and could have been injured by the driver.

“He should be kept in custody,” Burgoyne said of the juvenile as he and Haglock conferred on whether the 16-year-old should face charges in Ohio County for reckless driving.

“If they (immigration officials) can give us that commitment that he will be kept in custody, I have no problem with not charging him,” Burgoyne said. “But we need him out of the country.”

Those arrested were Enrique Rodriguez, 30; Danielo Bocanegra, 28; and Benjamin Rodriguez Perez, 18, all of Campeche, Mexico.

Enrique Rodriguez was scheduled for a deportation hearing before immigration officials in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Burgoyne noted.

Bocanegra was previously convicted of driving under the influence and had an “open DUI case” in Florida, Haglock noted.

Enrique Rodriguez indicated through an interpreter he had been in the United States five years, while the other three said they had been in the country for between a matter of months and a year, Haglock said.

Haglock said he was on his way to work for patrol duty under the county’s speed enforcement grant shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday when he noticed an older model auto bearing Florida registration turning from U.S. 40 westbound onto McGraws Run Road without using a turn signal.

“As the driver made the turn, we made eye contact,” Haglock said of the 16-year-old. “He floors the accelerator and flies up McGraws Run.”

After a pursuit of about 2.8 miles, Haglock was able to stop the vehicle.

There, the four occupants of the vehicle indicated they were in the country illegally, Haglock said.

The vehicle was found to be registered to a McAlpin, Fla., man, but Haglock was unable to determine a relationship between him and the four males found inside it.

The men were working for Dick Alford Bryer of D. Bryer Paving of Hostetter, Pa. The Mexicans said Bryer picked them up in Florida, Haglock noted.

Haglock said Bryer told him he was involved in paving two driveways in the Short Creek area near the North Fork Landfill at a value of about $3,400 this week.

“He was familiar with the area,” Haglock said. “He said he’s been working here a lot.”

However, Haglock could not say whether illegal aliens were involved in any of the other projects.

The men were working for Dick Alford Bryer of D. Bryer Paving of Hostetter, Pa. The Mexicans said Bryer picked them up in Florida, Haglock noted.

Haglock said Bryer told him he was involved in paving two driveways in the Short Creek area near the North Fork Landfill at a value of about $3,400 this week.

This story is missing a key element. I beg to ask, is Bryer being prosecuted for hiring the illegal immigrants? Not only should he be charged with hiring illegal aliens, he should additionally be charged with transporting illegal contraband across State lines!