A Texas National Guard member is behind bars facing serious charges of human smuggling and more after reportedly leading police on a frenetic high-speed chase close to the U.S.-Mexico border, authorities said. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Savion Amari Donovan Johnson, 26, allegedly sped away from law enforcement at speeds topping 100 mph, even crossing into oncoming traffic lanes. The pursuit began when Johnson abruptly turned away from a Border Patrol checkpoint in Kinney County.
The chase, which covered about 15 miles according to arrest affidavits cited by KENS5, saw Johnson allegedly stop to drop off a young Hispanic man before continuing his flight. The use of road spikes eventually brought Johnson's GMC SUV to a halt. After his arrest, officers found a 9-millimeter pistol in the vehicle, leading to a misdemeanor charge for unlawfully carrying a weapon in addition to the smuggling and evasion felonies.
Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe told CNN that this incident is not isolated but part of a worrying pattern: "It’s not the first Guardsman that we’ve caught," Coe said, acknowledging the allure of smuggling due to "the money involved." Arrest details highlight that Johnson had been deployed to Eagle Pass as part of the extensive border initiative, Operation Lone Star.
In a reaction to the charges, Andrew Mahaleris, spokesperson for Governor Greg Abbott, pulled no punches. "If the allegations are true, the accused is a traitor and criminal,” Mahaleris said in a statement obtained by KENS5. “We have zero tolerance for Texans who violate laws that directly contradict the mission we are seeking to achieve." In a clear denunciation of Johnson's alleged actions, Mahaleris added, "The accused's illegal smuggling may subject him to a mandatory minimum prison sentence of at least 10 years. He deserves more."
Details surrounding the incident remain under investigation, and it was not immediately clear if Johnson had obtained legal representation. The story was first brought to public attention by NewsNation, and both the Texas Guard and local authorities have refrained from offering further comments. The new state law, as reported, increases the minimum sentence for human smuggling convictions from two to ten years, showcasing the state's exacerbated efforts to clamp down on such illicit activities along the border.
