The La Joya police department arrested a man for a fatal rollover that killed two men after he allegedly fled from police, including La Joya Police Chief Ramon Gonzalez, on June 29, according to a probable cause affidavit.
La Joya police arrested 23-year-old Alexis Pino Hernandez on Monday.
Hernandez is facing two counts of murder, three counts of smuggling of persons causing serious bodily injury or death, and two counts of evading arrest, among other charges.
The police chief and another officer were sitting in an unmarked unit on Farm-to-Market Road 2221 when they noticed a suspicious green Ford Expedition stop on the shoulder of Allan Romo Street and load several people into the vehicle, the affidavit says.
Officers tried to conduct a traffic stop after notifying communications and requesting assistance from other officers, but the Expedition didn’t stop.
According to the document, the unmarked unit chased Hernandez past 4 Mile Line, where Border Patrol and other police units were waiting, and eventually turned east on 7 Mile Line.
“The suspect vehicle continued eastbound at a high speed disregarding several red stop lights,” the affidavit said. “The suspect vehicle then abruptly slowed down and made a left turn and began heading northbound on Abram Rd.”
Hernandez increased his speed and reached an area of the road that was unpaved.
Just north of 8 Mile Line, Hernandez lost control of the vehicle and some of the occupants were ejected, the affidavit says.
When police arrived, they found three men and one woman injured on the ground and contacted emergency medical services and the fire department, according to the document.
Gabriel Salas Sifuentes, 29, died at the scene.
Jose Ismael Campos Rodriguez, 31, was transported to a hospital but died later.
Hidalgo County jail records indicate Hernandez received a total of $2.750 million in bonds.
According to La Joya Police Investigator Manuel Casas, the case remains under investigation.
