Officers and medics tend to occupants of a smugglers’ vehicle whose driver attempted to evade capture and let his passengers flee on foot near Encinal
A California man is facing several felony charges for human smuggling after he led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit in Encinal on Tuesday, February 7.
According to a report on the case, state troopers on routine patrol attempted to effect a traffic stop on the driver of a black SUV after seeing him driving approximately 15 miles above the posted speed limit.
Encinal police say the pursuit began on Hwy 44 and the driver continued the chase on IH-35 before crossing the grassy median and allowing his occupants to flee on foot into the brush near Milemarker 44.
Law enforcement were able to capture the driver and eight illegal immigrants.
Video surveillance footage from law enforcement shows eight men fleeing on foot from the SUV and attempting to hide in the brush after jumping a barbed-wire fence.
The driver was transported to the La Salle County Jail. He was then released due to the facility being at full capacity. Agents of the US Border Patrol took the undocumented immigrants into custody.
