Alleged smuggler reportedly rammed two pursuing vehicles
OCOTILLO — A 28-year-old U.S. citizen was arrested by Border Patrol agents Tuesday night after allegedly ramming two law enforcement pursuit vehicles and leading a two-hour chase from the Ocotillo area to the Chula Vista area.
The El Centro Border Sector Public Affairs Office on Thursday declined to identify the man or his city of residence.
“Our policy states that the identity of suspect[s] will not be disseminated pending prosecution and charges,” Justin Castrejon, an agent with the El Centro Sector Border Patrol PAO, wrote in an email Thursday.
At about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, agents patrolling County Route S2 northwest of Ocotillo reported encountering a white Dodge Magnum — a type of station wagon discontinued in 2008 — parked on the side of the highway. Agents approaching the driver of the vehicle to conduct an immigration inspection said they observed two passengers lying down in the back seat.
Before the agents were able to speak with the unidentified driver, the man reportedly drove away north on S2. The agents pursued and attempted to perform a vehicle stop, but the driver reportedly failed to yield to the agents’ lights and sirens.
At this time, additional agents were dispatched to assist, according to a press release.
A few minutes into the pursuit, the driver of the Magnum slowed abruptly, causing the lead pursuit vehicle to swerve to the side of the road, agents said. The driver of the Magnum, then reportedly rammed into the side of the Border Patrol vehicle, forcing it to the shoulder of the road. The pursuit continued as the driver of the Magnum slowed and pulled alongside another Border Patrol vehicle. Again, the driver reportedly rammed into that Border Patrol vehicle, causing it to crash into a berm and become disabled.
The driver of the incapacitated Border Patrol vehicle was checked by medical personnel. No injuries were reported.
Meanwhile, the pursuit of the Magnum continued north on S2. Shortly thereafter, agents said two female passengers, who were only identified as Mexican citizens, fled the Magnum as it came to a stop at the side of the highway into the adjacent desert. Both of the female passengers were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents.
At this point, the agents who had been in pursuit of the Magnum terminated the chase while assistance from other Border Patrol stations was requested.
The Magnum continued north on S2 before turning west onto California State Route 78 at the intersection of the two highways east of Julian. Later, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents were able to locate the Magnum traveling west on SR-78 towards Ramona, according to the press release.
In Ramona, the driver reportedly exited onto SR-67, which travels west and then south with a terminus in El Cajon where it intersects with Interstate 8.
After the driver turned west onto I-8, agents attempted another vehicle stop, but the driver reportedly did not yield. The driver continued on I-8 before exiting south onto SR-125 at an exchange northwest of La Mesa.
The driver continued south for a time on SR-125 before exiting the highway and making his way to I-805 south toward Mexico.
On I-805, pursuing agents performed a pursuit interdiction technique, referred to as a PIT maneuver, on the Magnum, incapacitating it near Telegraph Canyon Road in Chula Vista, according to the press release.
A PIT maneuver, pioneered in the 1970s by the California Highway Patrol, requires approaching a fleeing vehicle diagonally from behind, according to www.pursuitresponse.org, an advisory group dedicated to improving law enforcement and community safety during high-risk vehicle events.
Before beginning a PIT maneuver, the pursuing officer must match the speed of the fleeing vehicle as closely as possible. Then, the pursuing vehicle gently nudges the rear bumper of the targeted vehicle, with the goal of sending the vehicle into a spin. The law enforcement vehicle continues forward as the target vehicle is disabled. The sudden change in the direction of the target vehicle will sometimes stall the vehicle, ending the pursuit and allowing law enforcement to take the driver into custody.
The unidentified driver was arrested without incident and faces charges of assault against a federal agent and smuggling illegal immigrants. It was unknown Thursday where he was incarcerated, or if he had been released on bond.
The two female passengers of the Magnum taken into custody after fleeing into the desert will serve as material witnesses in the case, according to the press release.
“Border Patrol agents everywhere face dangers like this every day,” David S. Kim, El Centro Sector assistant chief patrol agent, said in the press release. “As we witnessed, this smuggler had no regard for the people he was smuggling, or for the agents pursuing him.”