Texas officials arrested an illegal immigrant for an incident that left three members of the Thin Blue Line Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club dead.
Authorities in Kerr County arrested Ivan Robles Navejas, a Mexican national, for allegedly driving drunk Saturday morning and causing a car crash with members of a pro-police motorcycle club outside of San Antonio, officials announced Tuesday.
Three members of the club, Joseph Paglia, Jerry Wayne Harbour, and Michael White, were killed, and four were injured in the crash. Navejas was charged with four counts of intoxicated assault with a vehicle and three counts of intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle.
“Please join Thin Blue Line LEMC and Law Enforcement from around country in praying for these brave men and their families. These men who spent their lives serving our country and their communities with valor and honor,” the club said in a statement on the deaths.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Nina Pruneda confirmed Tuesday that Navejas is “an unlawfully present Mexican national” and placed an immigration detainer on him.
In addition to his new charges, Navejas has a lengthy criminal record that reaches back years, including a DUI and evading and resisting arrest. He was currently out on bond for allegedly beating a customer at a bar and biting part of his ear off.
“At some point along the line in his criminal history, he should have been arrested, and when they found out he was here illegally, he should have been in jail or not in our country,” said David Weed, a rider in the club. “It is that simple.”
The club is described as “a law enforcement motorcycle club whose members are active duty, retired, or reserve law enforcement officers from a variety of agencies and jurisdictions, along with our civilian friends who support us in our profession. Together, we share the love of American made motorcycles, the wind in our faces and the brotherhood of like minded motorcyclists,” according to its website.
