On Friday, October 19, 2012 at 7:45 a.m. a deputy from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a Chevy pickup truck at Steele Road and Highway 87 for an equipment violation. The driver of the truck failed to yield and continued traveling at 45 to 50 mph. A vehicle pursuit was initiated and the vehicle drove for approximately four more miles while failing to yield to the deputies emergency lights and siren.

When the vehicle was approximately one mile away from the Coolidge Airport, the vehicle stopped and 20 individuals exited and ran in different directions. Additional members of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol and officers from the Coolidge Police Department responded to assist.

Four of the individuals were located hiding in nearby brush. The individuals said they were with a group of 20 people which had entered the United States illegally. The individuals who were captured said they were from Durango, Mexico.

The four illegal aliens who were captured were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol.

The Chevy truck will be impounded by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “My deputies continue to do their job attempting to stop those who are involved with drug and human smuggling from traveling freely through the United States. Due to this current administration’s policies, less than 15% of the illegals who are apprehended in the Tucson Sector ever get prosecuted for entering the United States illegally. This past year, in the Tucson Sector alone there were 123,000 illegals apprehended.”