Following wreck, man charged with smuggling immigrants

BY GENTRY BRASWELL

http://www.svherald.com/articles/2006/08/10/local_news/news8.txt

HERALD/REVIEW

SIERRA VISTA — A Nogales, Ariz., man was arrested by city police on charges of human smuggling after a fender bender and short foot pursuit Tuesday afternoon.

Jose J. de la Cruz, 18, is being held at the Cochise County Jail with bond set at $50,000, Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Carol Capas said. De la Cruz is charged with human smuggling, leaving the scene of an accident and driving with a suspended license, according to a city police report summary.

Sierra Vista police responded to a two-vehicle, non-injury accident at 4:43 p.m. on Buffalo Soldier Trail at Seventh Street. The other driver was cited for failure to yield from a stop sign.

However, seven illegal immigrants were found to have been passengers in the 1993 GMC Suburban driven by De la Cruz, and they were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Border Patrol spokesman Rob Daniels confirmed the incident.

De La Cruz initially fled on foot from the scene, but officers found him trying to hide in the 900 block of Katherine Drive, according to the city report.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

The GMC driven by De La Cruz was registered to Rodrigo G. Valenzuela, also of Nogales, Ariz., according to the Sierra Vista Police Department.

REPORTER Gentry Braswell can be reached at 515-4680 or by e-mail at gentry.braswell@svherald.com.