Early morning pursuit leads Pinal County Sheriff's Office to an investigation into human smuggling.
Reports say the pursuit began after a PCSO deputy attempted to make a traffic stop for an equipment violation on a truck near Steele Road and Highway 87. The driver never yielded to the officer and continued on, even after the deputy put on his emergency lights and siren, according to law enforcement officials.
The truck finally stopped; nearly a mile from the Coolidge Airport with 20 individuals getting out of the truck and running in different directions, according to reports. Additional members of PCSO, the U.S. Border Patrol, and officers from the Coolidge Police Department responded to the call to assist.
A search of the area turned up four individuals, who said they were part of a larger group of 20 that crossed the border into the U.S. illegally. When questioned further the four told officials they were from Durango, Mexico.
Officials say the four were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol for processing, and the truck was impounded by PCSO.
In a statement released earlier today Sheriff Paul Babeu said,
"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