YUMA, Ariz. – Wellton Station Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 8 Immigration Checkpoint arrested a U.S. citizen and two illegal aliens from Mexico after they attempted to avoid arrest by fleeing in a vehicle late Saturday.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., agents referred a white 2008 Chevrolet Malibu to the secondary inspection area after a U.S. Border Patrol canine positively alerted to an odor it was trained to detect emitting from the vehicle. Instead of following the directions of the agent, the driver sped off.
Agents gave chase and observed the vehicle pulled over in the Ligurta rest area. They performed an immigration stop on the vehicle as it started to get back onto the interstate. Agents subsequently apprehended the driver, a 55-year-old female U.S. citizen from Wellton, and two male Mexican nationals unlawfully present in the United States. The female was charged with harboring illegal aliens.
Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Individuals can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. Reporting illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.