An illegal migrant from Honduras is wanted by federal authorities for allegedly ramming his car into Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles in Dallas last month, injuring multiple agents, according to federal prosecutors.
Jerson Lopez-Sanchez, 28, allegedly floored the gas in reverse trying to escape when his Chevy Silverado was surrounded by three ICE vehicles during a traffic stop on Dec. 1, according to a grand jury indictment filed in the Eastern District of Texas this week.
He smashed into the law enforcement Jeep behind him while an ICE agent had one leg outside the vehicle, injuring the agent and making enough space for him to drive around the other law enforcement vehicles and attempt to flee, prosecutors allege.
Officers pursued Lopez-Sanchez’s truck, which had four other people inside, prosecutors said.
A Chrysler van operated by ICE agents blocked his escape route — but instead of stopping, he accelerated and rammed into the van, injuring two agents inside, according to the indictment.
Photos included in the indictment show a mangled van with its front smashed in and smoke coming from the engine block.
“The ramming was so violent that it deployed all the airbags in the vehicle,” Jay Combs, the interim US attorney for the district, told reporters. “911 was called to assist the passenger in that vehicle, an ICE agent.”
Officials declined to detail the injuries to agents in the crash; however, the indictment describes the passenger as having injuries to his back and neck.
The chase continued for another 10 minutes until the Chevy truck stopped on a median and all five occupants jumped out and fled on foot.
Three of the occupants were detained with the help of civilians, but Lopez-Sanchez got away.
Lopez-Sanchez is charged with three counts of assaulting ICE agents but remains at large.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction, which could put him behind bars for 20 years.
Lopez-Sanchez did not have any known criminal background or active warrants as of Thursday, Combs said.
The indictment came on Jan. 14 — a week after mother of three Renee Nicole Good was shot dead by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
Federal officials allege she hit him with her car while interrupting an ICE operation in Minneapolis, sparking massive protests across the city.
