Two people were arrested following a 150-mile chase after a vehicle, linked to a human smuggling attempt, evaded a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in South Texas.
ATASCOSA COUNTY, Texas — Two people were arrested following a pursuit of more than 150 miles after a vehicle suspected of involvement in a human smuggling attempt drove through a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in South Texas, authorities said.
The incident began at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Freer, a small city in Duval County located about 150 miles south of Atascosa County. Officials said the vehicle failed to stop at the checkpoint, prompting a multi-agency response.
Officers from the Freer Police Department and Duval County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop the vehicle on Highway 16 shortly after it fled the checkpoint. The pursuit quickly expanded, with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol.
The chase continued north through McMullen County and into Atascosa County. Deputies from McMullen and Atascosa counties joined the effort to stop the vehicle.
Authorities said the pursuit ended on Highway 16 just north of FM 140 after officers deployed spike strips that flattened all four tires on the suspect vehicle.
Two individuals were taken into custody and transported to the Duval County Jail. Both are expected to face multiple felony charges.
Two additional individuals believed to be in the country illegally were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol custody.
Highway 16, which was temporarily closed during the pursuit, has since reopened in both directions.