Posted on 01/07/2010 11:13:15 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
LA JOYA — Two men dropped caltrops along Highway 83 as they evaded police during a pursuit early Thursday morning.
La Joya police attempted to pull over a Ford F-150 along Farm-to-Market Road 2221 about 7:40 a.m. Thursday. The truck's driver turned around and went south before heading west along Highway 83, said Officer Joe Cantu, a department spokesman.
The truck veered south along Sam Fordyce Road, where the driver and passenger eventually bailed and swam across the Rio Grande to Mexico.
Along the highway, police said several dozen caltrops — spiked devices with several metal points designed to always have one point upward — were dropped along the westbound lanes of the highway.
Officers seized the truck and discovered 191 pounds of marijuana bundles stashed in the bed and cab of the vehicle.
Police recovered two of the caltrops and suspect the rest landed in the median or ditch along the road. Texas Department of Transportation workers inspected the roadway, which is believed to be cleared of the spikes, Cantu said.
Besides the road spikes, Thursday morning's dense fog made the pursuit difficult, as well, Cantu said.
Suspected smugglers have deployed the caltrops locally in recent months as a tool to deflate tires during drug chases.
Several large bundles of marijuana were seized after the pursuit. Officers continued to weigh the drugs Thursday morning.
“Officers continued to weigh the drugs Thursday morning.”
“and each time they weighed less and less”
Deadly if you are following on a motorcycle.
Where can I get some of those?
Dude! Where did all the stash go?
Anyone ever used these? I’ve though before about buying some for my wife/daughters in case they were pursued by some maniac.
I remember in the late 60’s a State Trooper getting all 4 tires flattened during a chase in Appomattox County, VA when the perp tossed out a box of roofing nails.
Just google them up. They’re also called “road stars”, not to be confused with “Highway Star” by Deep Purple.
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