Vehicle pursuit tied to human smuggling

A standard traffic stop turned into the discovery of a bundle of marijuana and four illegal immigrants Saturday, Dec. 18.

A Pinal County deputy was patrolling Montgomery Road in Maricopa when he attempted to stop a Ford F-150 for speeding.

Instead of pulling over, the driver accelerated his vehicle to 80 miles per hour, ran a stop sign and swerved into oncoming traffic, evading the deputy, according to Pinal County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Tim Gaffney.

Deputies eventually located the vehicle, abandoned in the desert near the Gila River Indian Community.

Deputies, with the assistance of the Gila River Rangers, searched the area and located four illegal aliens, who were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Those in custody advised deputies that there were 8 or 9 illegal immigrants in the vehicle while it was being pursued, Gaffney said.

Deputies also located a black backpack with a bundle of marijuana inside of it near the truck.

Photo courtesy of PCSO