High Speed Chase Leads to Bailout, Arrests in El Campo

High Speed Chase Leads to Bailout, Arrests in El Campo

On MARCH 28 at 9:37 AM a Criminal Interdiction Captain with the Wharton County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a white Chevrolet Silverado on U. S 59 in the area of Prasek’s Hillje Smokehouse. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued. The driver exited U. S. 59 and entered the city limits of El Campo. The driver was traveling at speeds of approximately 100 MPH. The pursuit continued further into El Campo and ended on Heights Avenue at Avenue G where the driver came to a stop.

As soon as the vehicle came to a stop, fifteen Hispanic individuals exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Other Wharton County SO Units, along with El Campo PD, Texas DPS, and Wharton County Constable’s Office Pct. 3 arrived in the area and began pursuing the subjects on foot.

All of the subjects, including the driver, who was later identified as Uriel Gomes Padilla of Houston, were captured.

In total, 14 undocumented individuals from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador were detained. U. S. Border Patrol was contacted, and it was determined that all 14 of the individuals had entered the United States illegally. They were all later released to the custody of Border Patrol.

Padilla was transported to the Wharton County Jail where he was charged with Smuggling of Persons, a 2nd Degree Felony, and Evading Arrest or Detention, a State Jail Felony.

The Smuggling of Persons charge was enhanced from a 3rd Degree Felony to a 2nd Degree Felony due to the fact that Padilla placed the smuggled individuals at risk of suffering serious bodily injury or death.