Two Las Vegas men have been arrested in connection with a human smuggling operation in Southern Arizona. Cochise County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of 25-year-old Casey Olaf Sandoval and 25-year-old Julio Gutierrez after deputies observed suspicious activity involving a pickup truck.
Deputies reportedly initiated a traffic stop on a 2015 Chevy Silverado after witnessing a man in camouflage hastily getting into the vehicle, off the side of the road near Highway 92 and South Hereford Road. The driver of the truck initially failed to yield before pulling over, and the camouflaged man took off running, according to News3LV.
Upon detaining the suspects, Sandoval and Gutierrez faced felony charges of human smuggling. 8 News Now reports that Sandoval has a prior conviction for attempted murder in Nevada, while Gutierrez is wanted on an outstanding felony warrant for robbery in the same state.
After a short pursuit, U.S. Border Patrol agents located the camouflaged man who had fled from the truck, once the officers responded to assist. With previous encounters with the law, the perpetrators were then booked into the Cochise County Jail, carrying their heavy pasts that include violent accusations, like an old rope dragging behind them in the dust. Their arrest throws another spotlight on the ongoing challenges facing law enforcement in border regions.
The Cochise County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the incident.
