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Ten bundles of marijuana were dropped from an ultralight aircraft early Wednesday. (COURTESY PHOTO / December 12, 2012) |
IMPERIAL COUNTY — An American woman fled authorities at the Highway 86 checkpoint and was arrested on suspicion of human smuggling after a pursuit Monday evening, according to a U.S. Border Patrol press release.
Around 6 p.m., a 26-year-old female U.S. citizen approached the checkpoint between Westmorland and Salton City and sped away from agents conducting primary inspections.
Agents followed the vehicle, a 2013 Chevrolet Impala, whose driver refused to stop. Agents then requested assistance from California Highway Patrol and Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine.
The Highway Patrol found the car near the Coachella Canal and Airport Boulevard, about one mile east of Highway 86 where it was found against a dirt berm and on fire with no one inside.
A Highway Patrol helicopter soon located several people near the scene, and Border Patrol agents apprehended the driver and three Mexican citizens illegally in the U.S.
The driver and two of the Mexican citizens sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the incident, and all were provided medical care.
All the people involved were taken into custody, and the vehicle was seized.
Marijuana falls from sky
CALEXICO — More than 300 pounds of marijuana fell from the sky near the Calexico downtown Port of Entry early Wednesday, according to a U.S. Border Patrol press release.
Border Patrol agents saw an ultralight aircraft travel north into the U.S. from Mexico and then drop a package near Meadows and Spud Moreno roads before traveling back into Mexico around 1:10 a.m.
Agents then found a white 1991 Jeep Cherokee with its engine running and 10 bundles of marijuana after a ground search. The combined weight of the bundles was about 300 pounds with an estimated street value of $240,000.
El Centro Sector Border Patrol seized the vehicle while the Drug Enforcement Administration took custody of the seized marijuana. The press release made no mention of an arrest in connection with the drug-smuggling attempt.
“The use of ultralight aircraft in smuggling operations is an ongoing focus of Customs and Border Protection,” Acting Chief Patrol Agent Roy D. Villareal wrote in a statement. “The El Centro Sector is utilizing all available resources to detect, interdict and apprehend transnational air incursions. The collaboration and partnerships with other local and federal law enforcement agencies in our area has been vital in our approach to addressing these occurrences.”
— Chelcey Adami, cadami@ivpressonline.com
Buildings and city vehicles vandalized
The city’s Economic Development building on the 1200 block of Main Street, a maintenance building and two city vehicles were spray-painted.
The tags “phaser” and “cashmir” were spray-painted with blue and green paint on the vehicles, according to El Centro police call logs. The working on the buildings wasn’t legible.
The incident was reported Tuesday morning but it could have taken place late Monday afternoon.
Repair costs are estimated to be about $3,000, according to the logs, which note no suspect information was available.
Man found dead at Mayan
A 51-year-old white male tenant of the Mayan Hotel was found dead in his room Wednesday morning.
The hotel manager smelled something coming from the room, said Cmdr. Jeff Mason adding the manager hadn’t seen the person for the past four days.
The manager then went on to check on the person and when he entered the room discovered that the odor came from the deceased, said Mason.
The 911 call was made around 7:40 a.m. and firefighters responded and pronounced the man dead on scene.
Investigating officers found no signs of foul play, said Mason who couldn’t reveal the man’s identity as the family has yet to be notified.
Deputy Coroner Steven Green said an autopsy is scheduled for today and that a toxicology report could take at least 60 days.
Green also said the man had been in El Centro since November, but was unaware where the man had been before that.
Shots heard near Villa Avenue
Several witnesses reported hearing between three to six gunshots near the 300 block of Villa Avenue on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident was first reported shortly before 7 p.m., according to El Centro police call logs.
One reporting party alleged that he heard four shots that appeared to come from a 9 mm gun.
Another person reported hearing three shots, the logs show.
Police didn’t found casings, blood or anything unusual, according to the logs.
— Alejandro Davila, adavila@ivpressonline.com
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