CBP Officers Stop Man Trying to Flee Port by Using Tow Truck after His Vehicle Was Stopped

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San Diego — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro port of entry Wednesday stopped a man who tried to flee from officers at the border crossing in his vehicle rather than stop for inspection, and then tried to use a tow truck for his escape. 

At about 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, a 36-year-old male Mexican citizen arrived at the San Ysidro port of entry driving a 1997 Toyota 4Runner.

He used the approach lane dedicated to members of CBP’s trusted traveler program, SENTRI, but was not a SENTRI member and did not have any documents. The CBP officer referred him for a more intensive inspection.

The man drove into the inspection lot and parked as directed by officers. However, before being inspected by CBP officers and released, the man decided to try and exit the inspection lot. He was stopped by the CBP officer at the exit and returned to the lot, where he parked.

Again, before he was inspected and released, the man attempted to exit the inspection lot at a high rate of speed, and failed to yield when instructed to by the CBP officer at the exit. CBP officers activated the port runner deterrent system, and the vehicle’s tires were shredded before he stopped, blocked by a tow truck picking up seized vehicles at the port of entry.

After being blocked in, the driver exited the vehicle and attempted to get into the tow truck and drive away in it, before being stopped..

CBP officers took the man into custody, and confirmed that he is a Mexican citizen with no legal documents to enter the U.S. He was booked into San Diego County Jail, and will face criminal charges related to Wednesday’s incident.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.