LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – A high-speed chase resulted in the seamless hand-off of a suspect who tried to flee into Mexico, only to be detained and returned to the United States by Mexican authorities, highlighting the effective collaboration between the two nations in combating crime.
Commander Federico Calderon of the Webb County Sheriff’s Office recounted the events of July 7, when a 911 call alerted authorities to a domestic violence incident unfolding in a moving vehicle. Calderon explained the suspect was located based on the call’s location information, initiating a chase.
“He did flee from police and made it through to the Mexican side, through the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge,” Calderon added. “While he was in Mexico, eventually, he was apprehended by Mexican authorities and returned to the United States for prosecution.”
In the past, a suspect fleeing across the border might have been the end of the case, but working relationships between the Sheriff’s Office and the Mexican government are changing this.
“It’s not a daily occurrence, but when it needs to happen, it does happen,” Calderon said, crediting Sheriff Martin Cuellar for building these relationships. “We’ve been able to use those relationships to facilitate law enforcement across the border, requesting their assistance and vice versa. If they need assistance on something, we see what we can do to help,” Calderon added.
The victim remains in critical condition, according to the latest information received by the Sheriff’s Office.