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ILLICIT TRAFFIC
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| In custody: Authorities found people in stolen truck. (Thelma Grimes/photo.) |
Human, drug cargos
nabbed near Benson
Thelma Grimes & Chris Dabovich/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The San Pedro Valley continues to be a corridor for drug and human smugglers heading toward metropolitan areas with discovery Monday of 13 undocumented migrants and the seizure Thursday of 570 pounds of marijuana just west of the city, authorities said.
Thirteen illegal immigrants were apprehended by local authorities in a stolen pickup truck at the State Route 90/Interstate 10 intersection. The March 26 marijuana seizure also occurred on SR-90 and found after an Arizona Dept. of Public Safety patrolman stopped a northbound 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche reported stolen in Texas, according to DPS spokeswoman Joy Craig.
Craig identified the driver as Felipe Escalante Salazar, 45, of Mexico. At the time of the arrest, Craig said, Escalante Salazar suffered what may have been a heart attack while in transit to Sierra Vista following the "high risk stop." He was transported and admitted into intensive care at Sierra Vista hospital after complaining of chest pains.
Escalante Salazar is charged with possession and transportation of marijuana for sale, said Craig.
In Monday's incident, DPS Sgt. Sam Miller said a check of the northbound pickup truck by a patrolman near Sierra Vista revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen.
Rather than attempting to pull the truck over immediately, Miller said the plan was to get local authorities set up around at the SR-90 /I-10 junction.
DPS, the Benson Police Department and Cochise County Sheriff's Department blocked the on and off-ramps at I-10 with guns drawn. As the truck neared the intersection, the patrolman stopped the vehicle.
Miller said the truck pulled over without incident, and inside officers found 13 people. Seven were inside the extended cab and six were hidden under a tarp in the truck's bed.
Several of the men were handcuffed and sat down on the side of the road, while the other six remained in the back of the truck as they waited for U.S. Border Patrol to arrive.
Both incidents remain under investigation, authorities said.
nabbed near Benson
Thelma Grimes & Chris Dabovich/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The San Pedro Valley continues to be a corridor for drug and human smugglers heading toward metropolitan areas with discovery Monday of 13 undocumented migrants and the seizure Thursday of 570 pounds of marijuana just west of the city, authorities said.
Thirteen illegal immigrants were apprehended by local authorities in a stolen pickup truck at the State Route 90/Interstate 10 intersection. The March 26 marijuana seizure also occurred on SR-90 and found after an Arizona Dept. of Public Safety patrolman stopped a northbound 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche reported stolen in Texas, according to DPS spokeswoman Joy Craig.
Craig identified the driver as Felipe Escalante Salazar, 45, of Mexico. At the time of the arrest, Craig said, Escalante Salazar suffered what may have been a heart attack while in transit to Sierra Vista following the "high risk stop." He was transported and admitted into intensive care at Sierra Vista hospital after complaining of chest pains.
Escalante Salazar is charged with possession and transportation of marijuana for sale, said Craig.
In Monday's incident, DPS Sgt. Sam Miller said a check of the northbound pickup truck by a patrolman near Sierra Vista revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen.
Rather than attempting to pull the truck over immediately, Miller said the plan was to get local authorities set up around at the SR-90 /I-10 junction.
DPS, the Benson Police Department and Cochise County Sheriff's Department blocked the on and off-ramps at I-10 with guns drawn. As the truck neared the intersection, the patrolman stopped the vehicle.
Miller said the truck pulled over without incident, and inside officers found 13 people. Seven were inside the extended cab and six were hidden under a tarp in the truck's bed.
Several of the men were handcuffed and sat down on the side of the road, while the other six remained in the back of the truck as they waited for U.S. Border Patrol to arrive.
Both incidents remain under investigation, authorities said.
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| Council seems ready to hand reins to Nichols |
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
Frank wrote on Apr 4, 2009 12:58 PM:
" Nice to see that even in our liberal United States. Some take the time to DO their Jobs and do them well!
Thank you to the DPS, Border Patrol and The Benson PD, Job well done and keep up the good work!!!
They can't be Immigrants if they are here without anyone's knowledge!
Hence the Term: Illegal Alien!
The first word in that term should STOP all the Left and Amnesty idiots!
They HAVE broken our Laws! They should be arrested without question and returned from where ever they belong.
Until they Earn the Respect of our Citizens and do so Legally!
They won't have respect from us until they have enough respect for themselves to do it Right and Legal!
They MUST Repsect themselves also! "
Thank you to the DPS, Border Patrol and The Benson PD, Job well done and keep up the good work!!!
They can't be Immigrants if they are here without anyone's knowledge!
Hence the Term: Illegal Alien!
The first word in that term should STOP all the Left and Amnesty idiots!
They HAVE broken our Laws! They should be arrested without question and returned from where ever they belong.
Until they Earn the Respect of our Citizens and do so Legally!
They won't have respect from us until they have enough respect for themselves to do it Right and Legal!
They MUST Repsect themselves also! "
Bravo wrote on Apr 2, 2009 4:15 AM: