A man is under arrest after fleeing from the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint at a high rate of speed with two people in the country illegally locked in his vehicle’s trunk.
Agents arrested Eric Anthony Aguirre after he crashed south of Falfurrias.
Aguirre is charged with bringing in and smuggling people in the country illegally after being instructed where to pick up the two people being smuggled by an unknown individual off of the phone application TikTok.
According to a criminal complaint, Aguirre arrived at the Falfurrias checkpoint on Friday at about 7:40 p.m. in a green Chevrolet Malibu where Aguirre stated he was traveling to Fort Worth before a canine unit alerted the vehicle.
The responding agent asked Aguirre to open his truck to which he complied.
“Once the trunk was unlocked, the canine handler lifted the trunk lid and revealed one subject concealed under a spare tire cover,” the complaint said.
Aguirre was then ordered to turn the vehicle off and step out but failed to comply and drove away at a high rate of speed.
Two agents initiated a pursuit where Aguirre lost control of his vehicle just south of Falfurrias where he jumped out of the vehicle and began to run on foot, but he was ultimately apprehended.
Another agent secured the Malibu and found two people inside the trunk who were found to be Mexican nationals and placed them under arrest along with Aguirre, according to the complaint.
In an interview with authorities, Aguirre stated he started his day in Stephenville where he was spending time with his girlfriend before traveling to the Rio Grande Valley, specifically Pharr, in order to pick up the two illegally present individuals.
Aguirre said an unknown person from TikTok sent him a pin drop as to where to pick up the two people which led him to a car wash in Pharr.
Once he arrived, which was between 6:30 and 7 p.m., Aguirre encountered the Mexican citizens who asked him if he was the driver to which he said yes and told them to get in the trunk of his Malibu.
“He stated that the reason for that was because, if they were in the trunk, they would be safer when the bullets started flying,” the complaint said.
Aguirre added that he was to be paid $8,000 after dropping off the two subjects in Houston and mentioned “that he wanted to die tonight,” stating that he was on the phone with his girlfriend who he told something to the extent of: “This is the last time you’ll talk to me.”
One of the Mexican citizens told authorities that he was provided a black phone when placed inside the trunk and was “extremely afraid for his life” when the car began moving erratically, according to the complaint.
“[He] stated he messaged his family when he felt the car accelerate aggressively,” the complaint said. “[He] stated he tried to open the trunk and get out by pushing it upwards, however it was completely shut even after the car spun out.”
He added that he was hurt by the tools in the trunk when the vehicle spun.
Both people were able to identify Aguirre in a photo lineup.
Aguirre and the two Mexican nationals appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchel Neurock Monday morning for their initial appearance in Corpus Christi federal court.
