see also: in October 2002:   Alleged Colombian Heroin Distributor Arrested in Chicago; Among 25 Charged in Operation Smackdown Led by Customs Agents   U.S. Customs Publishes Final Regulations to Require Advance Shipping Information   Customs Agent is Presented the Presidential Council on Integrity and Efficiency Award   U.S. Customs Inspectors Seize $7.6 Million in Cocaine at Hidalgo/Pharr in Five Days   More Than 300 Registered for Customs Trade Symposium 2002   Wang Pleads Guilty to Bribery, Smuggling in Export Scheme Involving Chinese Textiles   China Joins the U.S. in Container Security Initiative ...more

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Laredo, TX - A Nuevo Laredo man who attempted to flee to Mexico and grab an Immigration Inspector's sidearm during his ill-fated flight remains behind bars following his arrest by U.S. Customs this week for assault on a federal officer and several outstanding warrants.

Mexican national Joseph Jesse Baum, AKA Jose Guadalupe Arellano-Gutierrez, 27, appeared before a federal magistrate Wednesday on a charge of assault on a federal officer and was ordered held without bond.

The incident occurred Tuesday at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge. A U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service Inspector referred a 1980 Dodge van driven by Baum for a secondary examination. During the examination, U.S. Customs Inspectors referencing a national crime database confirmed that Baum was sought by the Nueces County Sheriff's Department on outstanding state warrants for aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery and evading arrest.

Baum was escorted to a holding cell. While being escorted by U.S. Customs Inspectors to the cell, Baum broke free and attempted to flee into Mexico. Several U.S. Customs and INS Inspectors gave chase. Baum was subdued by an INS Inspector and other officers and taken back into custody. As Baum was being taken into custody, he gave strong resistance and attempted to retrieve the holstered firearm of an INS Inspector. Baum subsequently was arrested on a federal charge of assault on a federal officer in addition to the outstanding state charges.

U.S. Customs Laredo Port Director Gene Garza recognized the team effort that resulted in the fugitive's apprehension. "Our Inspectors are faced with potentially life-threatening situations every day and in this case our Inspectors, working together with their counterparts from INS, were able to contain what could have been a deadly encounter," Garza said. "We take seriously any attempt to do harm to our officers and at the same time we are relieved that no officer sustained serious injury during the apprehension."