As law enforcement officials across South Texas continue to combat crime that includes high-speed pursuits from human smuggling attempts, a Frio County deputy made an arrest following a pair of dangerous incidents last week.
Frio County Lieutenant Joshua Longoria says that while on routine patrol on Tuesday, April 18, he attempted to effect a traffic stop on a wrong-way driver.
“I saw the vehicle traveling in the wrong lane along the east access road,” the lieutenant said. “That is when I attempted to conduct a traffic stop and she continued heading towards me.”
Longoria said he was able to avoid being struck head-on and was assisted by state troopers who deployed tire-deflating spikes.
The woman, later identified as 19-year-old Lissette Cuevas, stopped the vehicle just south of Devine.
US Border Patrol agents took the five undocumented immigrants traveling with the San Antonio woman into custody.
Cuevas was arrested and transported to the Frio County Jail without further incident; the woman faces felony six counts of human smuggling.
Since April 16, Frio County has reported 13 high-speed pursuits that have ended with several undocumented immigrants absconding into nearby brush. On Sunday, April 20, the sheriff’s department reported a bail-out along Hwy 57 that involved over 20 undocumented immigrants fleeing on foot to evade capture.
