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Officers, ranchers nab 14 suspected illegals WCN/WILLIAM J. GIBBS JR.• Reprints at wilsoncountynews.com Deputy Robert Shockley of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office (second from left) and Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Trooper Craig Semlinger (right) remain alert as a group of suspected illegal immigrants boards a sheriff’s office van on C.R. 201 Dec. 4. Wilson County News December 8, 2009 FALLS CITY -- A group of 14 suspected illegal immigrants apprehended north of here Dec. 4 is now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, said Trooper Craig Semlinger of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Highway Patrol. Semlinger said nine of the men and women captured by DPS troopers, sheriff’s deputies from Wilson and Karnes counties, and some local ranchers are from Mexico. The remaining five, the trooper said, are from China. Three others said to be with the group were still at large as of press time Dec. 7. Shortly before noon Dec. 4, Semlinger said he saw a silver-colored 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck near the intersection of F.M. 791 and U.S. 181 in Falls City. Semlinger became suspicious when he saw movement under a thin sheet of wood in the truck’s bed. “[The passengers] were holding it down, trying to keep warm,” he said. Semlinger said the truck, which was reported stolen in Pearland, displayed tags belonging to an older-model Dodge Ram truck. Semlinger pursued the truck for several minutes and over varying terrain, before it came to a stop. At that time, the passengers and driver abandoned the vehicle and fled from sight. As the unseasonably cold temperature began to take its toll on the fugitives, several emerged from their hiding places among the brush, prickly-pear plants, and cattle on the area ranchland. Jonathan Kutac was among a group of ranchers in pickup trucks who helped troopers and sheriff’s deputies apprehend several of the men and women who fled. Kutac had driven down C.R. 202 after becoming concerned that someone might break into his home. He wound up transporting some of the fugitives to waiting officers. “I drove up and cornered three against a fence,” Kutac said. “They got in, and we went up to the road and got the other five. They all started piling in.” Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the remaining fugitives is asked to call the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office at 830-393-2535 or Crime Stoppers of Wilson County at 830-393-INFO (4636). Callers may remain anonymous. |
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