A suspected human smuggler has been charged with serious crimes after he allegedly attempted to run a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent off the road.
“Last week, Daniel Jerome Wagner, 54, of Phoenix, Arizona, was arrested on one count of Assault on a Federal Officer with the Use of a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon,” said a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) press release. “Wagner was charged by criminal complaint and had his initial appearance on Friday before United States Magistrate Judge Eric J. Markovich.”
A Douglas, Arizona CBP agent initially attempted to stop Wagner for an immigration inspection on September 21. He was suspected of smuggling illegal aliens into the country.
But Wagner did not stop.
Instead, he picked up speed on the highway, attempting to evade the authorities.
Abruptly, Wagner then stopped his vehicle, and turned 180 degrees before heading in the opposite direction.
“The agent stopped his vehicle and saw Wagner driving eastbound directly towards his fully marked U.S. Border Patrol vehicle,” according to the DOJ. “Wagner drove towards the agent, he crossed into the agent’s lane, forcing the agent to drive off the highway and onto the shoulder to avoid being struck. Wagner drove past the agent’s vehicle, narrowly missing him. Other agents followed Wagner and eventually arrested him.”
The maximum penalty for the crimes for which Wagner is accused is 20 years in prison, and/or a fine of up to$250,000.
As usual, Phoenix CBP remains busy.
Human smugglers in the area have become more devious in their elusive tactics.
In August, migrants were arrested while driving a cloned CBP vehicle.
“This is not a Border Patrol vehicle. [Homeland Security Investigation Phoenix] and [Border Patrol] agents from [Tucson] Station foiled a smuggling attempt using a cloned vehicle and a fake uniform. The driver and 10 migrants were taken into custody,” said Chief Patrol Agent of CBP’s Tucson Sector John R. Modlin at the time.
That was two weeks after illegal aliens were caught driving a fake fire vehicle.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
