LA JOYA – A man is behind bars following a brief police pursuit in La Joya.

According to a criminal complaint, the La Joya Police Department received a phone call from a concerned citizen about seeing people possibly in the country illegally get into a vehicle.

The police officer encountered the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver failed to yield and ran a red light. They contacted Border Patrol to assist with the case.

The driver, identified as Julio Cesar Vidaurri-Gonzalez, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a fence. Officers found four passengers inside the vehicle that were later deemed to be in the country illegally.

Border Patrol conducted a criminal check on Vidaurri-Gonzalez and it revealed two prior administrative alien smuggling cases.

Agents spoke to one of the passengers, identified as Clemente Reyes-Garcia who was in the country illegally. He said he crossed the river with the three other people.

Reyes stated he has smuggled people for money in the past. The remaining people identified him as their guide.

Both men were arrested and face federal human smuggling charges.