http://www.jrn.com/kgun9/news/High-s...295488911.html MESA, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - On March 4, 2015, the Pinal County Sheriff's Deputies, U.S. Border Patrol, DPA, and Gila River Police units were drawn into two high speed races that later led to a discovery of a stash house in Mesa.
Around 5:36 a.m., deputies were challenged to stop a White Chevrolet Pickup Truck that was traveling eastbound on Interstate -8 for traffic violations. The truck crossed the median and the westbound lanes at a high rate of speed. The White Pickup Truck then traveled across the county land until the passengers attempted to jump the irrigation canal, this disabled the vehicle. 10 individuals ran away, and 9 of them were taken into custody and turned to the U.S. Border Patrol agents.
Around 11:45 a.m., Pinal County Sheriff's Deputy noticed a 2006 White Trailblazer driving at a high rate of speed along the I-8 near Trekell Rd.
Pinal County Sheriff's Deputy entered the I-8 and tried to catch up with the vehicle. The White Trailblazer then entered onto Interstate-10 in Casa Grande and began traveling westbound. The deputy caught up with the vehicle and tried to execute a traffic stop in close proximity to mile marker 195 on I-10. The driver proceeded to drive over 100mph, while the passengers threw bales of marijuana out of the vehicle onto the road.
Approximately five vehicles that were not involved with the carrying of marijuana stopped and grabbed the bales that were thrown from the vehicle. Due to the traffic conditions, deputies and DPS were not able to recover the bales. However, 374 pounds of marijuana was able to be recovered.
The Trailblazer exited on McCartney Rd. in Casa Grande, made its way east bound toward Overfield Rd. and into Central Arizona College. The vehicle then turned eastbound onto Woodruff Rd. Ahead, Pinal County Sheriff's Deputies set up spike strips that successfully deflated both front tires of the Trailblazer.
The occupants involved were later discovered as Mario Perez-Paz, 43, and Juan Aguilar-Zavala, 21. Both men were taken into custody and booked into the Pinal County Sheriff's Jail on accounts for Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana for Sale, Transportation of Marijuana to Sale, Conspiracy to Transport Marijuana for Sale, and Unlawful Flight.
Border Patrol and Customs Enforcement officials were able to find the location of the smugglers and marijuana from a stash house in Mesa. Authorities also identified 20 illegals from Guatemala and Mexico.
Pinal County Sheriff Babeu says, "These foreign drug smugglers try to outrun our deputies and even throw bales of marijuana from their vehicle. We caught these criminals who put our deputies and our local citizens in harm's way and now they will go to prison for their crimes."
