Payson Roundup

Despite their best attempts to get away, five illegal immigrants were detained Wednesday afternoon after fleeing from a vehicle.

Gila County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dennis Newman initially pulled the vehicle over on a routine traffic stop as it was coming into town on Highway 87 around 3 p.m., said Lt. Tim Scott with the GCSO.

When the vehicle came to a stop, several people bailed out and started running everywhere. Newman called for back up and several deputies and Payson police officers searched for the illegal immigrants, eventually finding five.

All were handed over to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

This is not the first time Newman has been credited with stopping a vehicle hiding illegal immigrants.

According to Roundup archives, Newman stopped a vehicle in November 2007 that held 10 illegal immigrants.

In February 2007, Newman stopped a Ford Expedition on a routine traffic stop and discovered 17 Mexican nationals in the back as well as two human smugglers from Georgia in the front. The smugglers were arrested and illegal immigrants handed over to ICE.

In June 2007, Newman picked up another 12 illegal immigrants on another traffic stop and in May 2006, Newman discovered 15 crowded together in a Oldsmobile Silhouette van.