BLAINE, Wash. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Peace Arch Port of Entry took a man into custody when an inspection revealed two outstanding felony warrants in Mount Vernon.
The 45-year-old Toppenish resident arrived at the border with no identification and gave a false name to officers. The subject’s fingerprints revealed his real identity, along with two warrants.
The felony warrants involved a failure to appear on charges of trafficking stolen property, and operating a vehicle without a valid license. After confirmation of the warrants by the Mount Vernon Police Department, the man was taken to the Whatcom County jail before extradition to Skagit County.
“Cases of this nature can be complex and labor intensive,” said Area Port Director Kenneth Williams. “Our CBP officers do an outstanding job keeping the criminal element out of our communities.”
CBP’s Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the U.S. while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.