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Texas woman tries to flee to Mexico across Rio Grande with infant after human smuggling bust, authorities say

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Texas woman tries to flee to Mexico across Rio Grande with infant after human smuggling bust, authorities say

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A Texas woman found with five illegal immigrants in her vehicle attempted to flee from authorities near the border by swimming across the Rio Grande into Mexico with an infant, officials said. 

Brenda Castro, a U.S. citizen, was a passenger in a Ford Explorer being driven by her husband, also an American citizen, on Dec. 19 in the border city of Laredo when he refused to stop for Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers, the agency said. 

Dashcam footage released by DPS shows the SUV traveling at a high speed along residential and rural roads. 

Authorities said a high-speed chase ensued when Castro bailed out of the vehicle with an infant and tried to swim across the river, which borders Mexico. 

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VIDEO SHOWS 23 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOUND HIDDEN IN TRUCK CAB DURING TENSE TRAFFIC STOP: POLICE

Brenda Castro jumped into the Rio Grande with an infant in an attempt to flee to Mexico during a high-speed chase with authorities while smuggling illegal immigrants, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.  (Getty Images; Texas Department of Public Safety)

Castro’s husband swam across and made it to Mexico, a DPS spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

State and local law authorities at the scene directed Castro to come back to the U.S. side of the border, and she was arrested. 

TEXAS RAID TARGETING TREN DE ARAGUA GANG LEADS TO ARREST OF 140 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS 

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Bodycam footage shows Brenda Castro and an infant in the Rio Grande on the U.S.-Mexico border.  (Texas Department of Public Safety)

While in the river, authorities were heard telling Castro in Spanish to get back to dry land with the child. A law enforcement officer was then seen taking the child out of the water.

“I can’t believe you tried to run back with the baby. You both could have drowned,” a law enforcement officer told Castro while escorting her into a vehicle upon her arrest.

The child was placed under the care of authorities. 

Authorities said they found five illegal immigrants in Castro’s vehicle and turned them over to the U.S. Border Patrol. 

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The Rio Grande is seen from Laredo, Texas, U.S., September 19, 2020. Picture taken Sept. 19, 2020. (REUTERS/Veronica G. Cardenas)

Castro is charged with human smuggling and endangering a child.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Victims sought after man allegedly points gun at passing cars in Santa Clarita Valley

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Victims sought after man allegedly points gun at passing cars in Santa Clarita Valley

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help finding witnesses after a man allegedly pointed a handgun at numerous passing cars in Castaic on June 18.

The man was allegedly seen pointing the gun at cars near Lake Hughes Road and Ridge Route Road between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The suspect was described as wearing a red shirt and black shorts.

Authorities provided a photo of the man seen running in the street while holding something in his left hand.

Anyone who may have witnessed the alleged assaults, is a victim of the incident or has information about the case is asked to call Detective Marinelli at (661) 260-4000 ext. 5618.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Sweltering heat wave to grip Southern California next week

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Sweltering heat wave to grip Southern California next week

Southern California is enjoying a comfortable stretch of below-average temperatures that should continue through Father’s Day, but a strong heat wave is looming.

A significant warming trend will begin early next week before peaking Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

“Another one of those ridges of high pressure is expected to build in, with temperatures really heating up,” KTLA’s Kirk Hawkins said. “We’re looking at temperatures reaching triple digits in parts of the High Desert and Inland Empire as well.”

An extreme heat watch has been issued for parts of Los Angeles County, including Woodland Hills, Pomona, Pasadena, Santa Clarita and other areas, from Tuesday morning through Thursday evening.

Temperatures in those areas could range from the upper 80s to 100 degrees.

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(National Weather Service)

The Weather Service suggested the following actions:

  • Continue to monitor the latest forecasts, as the amount of heating is still uncertain
  • Adjust plans now to stay cool next week
  • Check in with elderly neighbors and family members to ensure they are aware of the hot forecast

The high-pressure system is expected to weaken on Thursday, bringing cooler temperatures as we head into next weekend.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Armed, dangerous CHP pursuit suspect tied to double homicide in Pomona

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Armed, dangerous CHP pursuit suspect tied to double homicide in Pomona

A 48-year-old man who led law enforcement on a dangerous pursuit lasting more than an hour is in custody in connection with the shooting deaths of a man and a woman at an upscale Pomona apartment complex Thursday, police announced.

Officers with the Pomona Police Department responded to the Monterey Station Apartments, located at 180 E. Monterey Ave., near North Garey Avenue, just before 3:30 p.m. on reports of a shooting, according to a department news release.

Police, along with responding Los Angeles County firefighters, found the two victims in a fourth-floor apartment.

Paramedics immediately began life-saving measures, but both victims were ultimately declared dead at the scene, investigators said.

A 48-year-old man was arrested in connection to a double homicide in Pomona after a lengthy and dangerous high-speed chase on June 18, 2026. (KTLA)

Neighbors told KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade that the suspected shooter, Robert Galtman of Pomona, shot his girlfriend and another resident of the apartment complex.

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“He shot the girl, that was the girlfriend,” one woman, a resident of the building who did not want to give her name, told KTLA. “I know them because he had tried to hit on me and told me the situation that she was beating him up and that she cheated on him with this guy, the one that was killed.”

Authorities were searching Galtman, who was believed to be in dark-colored sedan that fled the apartments northbound on Towne Avenue near Holt Avenue.

Just before 5 p.m., officers with the California Highway Patrol spotted his vehicle traveling northbound on the 5 Freeway, officials confirmed to KTLA. When officers attempted a traffic stop, he failed to yield and led authorities on a high-speed pursuit that lasted more than an hour.

During the pursuit, he made a U-turn on the freeway and headed southbound before exiting in Castaic and taking Lake Hughes Road through the hills toward the Antelope Valley.

Sky5 was over the dangerous chase as Galtman was seen tossing unknown items from the vehicle, including some type of liquid, swerving dangerously onto the shoulder and refusing to stop as at least four CHP units followed closely behind.

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He initially dodged several spike strips deployed by officers, at one point driving on the shoulder in Lancaster before clipping one of the strips with the vehicle’s left side, causing both tires to deflate.

Still refusing to stop, Galtman continued at about 30 mph until a CHP officer accelerated and performed a PIT maneuver that spun the vehicle and disabled it.

He was quickly surrounded by officers with guns drawn but did not immediately comply.

Following law enforcement commands, Galtman exited the vehicle, surrendered and was taken into custody.

The identities of the two victims are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

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Authorities have not released a motive in the deadly shooting. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Pomona Police Department’s Detective Bureau at 909-620-2085.

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