Suspected Illegal Escapes Police
Jumps 70 Feet Over WallBy GABE WELLS Staff Writer
Article Photos
ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Erick Perez Hernandez jumped head first from an Interstate 70 highwall early today landing more than 70 feet below the Belmont County deputy attempting to arrest him.
Law enforcement agencies searched by land and air today to track down the suspected illegal alien who is feared dead.
Hernandez was one of 11 suspected illegal immigrants detained in a traffic stop at 12:08 a.m. in the eastbound lane of I-70 between Bridgeport and St. Clairsville. Hernandez told arresting deputy Aynsley Hildebrand he would not go back to Mexico as he ran from the van he was driving. Hildebrand said he chased Hernandez across both lanes of I-70 before Hernandez dove over the retaining wall to the earth and stone below.
"The first thing I did was call for a squad because I thought he was dead," Hildrebrand said.
Hildrebrand used a flashlight to watch Hernandez after the fall. He said it appeared the suspect landed "on his face." The deputy said he thought Hernandez was unconscious for more than 20 seconds before he again fled. Hildrebrand said he believed Hernandez had a broken leg and was badly bleeding from the fall.
Belmont County Sheriff's Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol cruisers scoured the areas between Bridgeport and St. Clairsville today in the search for Hernandez. An Ohio State Highway Patrol airplane called in for the search circled the area. Deputies searching creeks in Blaine emerged from the woods with their pants soaked above the knees. Sgt. Tom DeVaul said blood trails and footprints were followed in the search for the suspect. Several deputies said they suspected they would find Hernandez dead.
The 10 other suspected illegals were transported to the Belmont County Jail. They are facing felony charges, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was contacted by sheriff's officials.
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Georgetwin
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07-08-08 10:25 AM
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Maestle, wear heavy shoes or you will float away.
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Maestle
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06-27-08 4:49 PM
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What a classic comment "dont like it here, leave" No buddy, I plan to fix this country, we are way off our past, everyone has forgotten our history, and what this country was founded on. That includes you sir. Nice to know you are afraid of them, if they were allowed to come here legally, maybe they'd have insurance? maybe not? Plenty of americans dont have insurance to. So whats your point?
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Georgetwin
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06-27-08 10:45 AM
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Maestle, if it is so bad here, move to Mexico.
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needanewmayor
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06-27-08 9:36 AM
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After being rear ended by one and pushed through a major intersection in Maryland, yeah I'm afraid of the illegals. How about you go through that, and their lack of insurance and you deal with it. Then you can come back here and give us your liberal goo about how the illegals want to be legal. You sir are pathetic for trying to aid them. Again, I don't care what country they are from. Illegal is Illegal.
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Maestle
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06-27-08 4:44 AM
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How many times do you "americans" need told. That our system is broken. They can not come here legally. 50,000 a year. Is ALL we let come here legally. The current wait list is over 13 years. If Everyone in the USA applied to come here, the wait list would explode to over 250 years. I know many illegals of many nations. All but one, wish to become citizens, pay taxes, and live here. We just dont let them. Just admit it, you are afraid of them. How pathetic this valley seems.
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Rusty1
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06-26-08 2:56 PM
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I wonder when they will find this guy? I mean how far can you get in his condition?
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needanewmayor
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06-26-08 9:56 AM
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Dottie, I don't know where you believe that I stated something, then backed off it. I will be opposed to all types of illegal aliens with every breath I have left. If they want to come through the legal way, then so be it. I am ok with them doing that. I love how I through something out there to you about if the roll was reversed and you or I did that what you'd expect and you had no comment. Not commenting tells me either you don't think things through, or can't speak for yourself, or you put your foot in your mouth (in theory) and now don't know how to get out of it. Answer the question and then we can have a real discussion.
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Georgetwin
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06-26-08 9:48 AM
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THFan, LBJ, FDR, JFK, WJC, who so defensive all of a sudden about middle names?
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Dottie
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06-25-08 7:04 PM
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It cracks me up how these threads pan out ~ I did mention voting, but not for whom. Someone assumed (and you know what happens when you assume...) that I was a bleeding-heart democrat and assigned me the stereotypes of Obama. When confronted, needanewmayor backs up and retracts, "I was just sayin..." but ktbass's name sounds too much like A** for me to take him seriously, why didn't you point that out also? (sorry kt, no offense intended, just a point) Or is it just people you think are un-American? BTW your screen name makes me think you are simply a complainer who takes little action, but finds sideways opportunities to plant negativity and attacks for your narrow causes. My original post was about the humanity of this story, I never meant to get personal back, but I won't let it get by unchecked.
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needanewmayor
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06-25-08 4:59 PM
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Oh, now you are discussing Presidential Candidate Osama. I mean Obama. Sorry, but his name just sounds too much like a terrorist name. That's an opinion, not an attack on race or religion. Just saying he doesn't have the presidential name that many would assoicate with the U.S.
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tarheelfan
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06-25-08 3:28 PM
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Why do people just have to use the "Hussein" part in his name? Don't you think we are smart enough to figure out your little games?
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needanewmayor
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06-25-08 1:19 PM
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If these illegals tried to come in the legal way, and tried to adapt to our society, learn our language, our laws, etc... then I would have no problem with them. The free handouts, the having to print signs etc in both languages has got to stop. As for your comment about how to treat him, he jumped, he ran from custody, he can't be compared to a drunk or someone impaired. That's not a valid argument.
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Dottie
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06-25-08 12:14 PM
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<- chuckling Actually, I'm an Independent who will probably vote for McCain, but don't quote me, there's a lot of time between now and then.
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Dottie
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06-25-08 11:52 AM
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the viciousness and try to find solutions that resolve the problems. Vote for people who can make changes, not who continue the staus quo. Live in the solution, not in the problem, and make your voice heard in a forum that makes a difference, not in random localized and largely-ignored-by-policy-makers newspapers. Sorry for the length. Thanks for the feedback.
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Dottie
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06-25-08 11:48 AM
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Ok ~ so it's not about being a christian. Then what is it about? This is a human being we're talking about here, not an overpopulation of deer, or some other non-human perceived threat. I am a "7th generation born here" part-German. Does that make me any less of an American today? I do support legal immigration, because that was how this country developed, grew and spread. I vote in every election, and lobby for the changes that need to address this. But making a stupid decision (or several) does not automatically warrant "let em die" mentality. If that were true, we would not make any effort to save a falling-down drunk, a mentally impaired person, or an alzheimer's patient. You might argue these immigrants may have the ability to make conscious choices whereas the other examples may not; why do people come here? Often because they can't see any other way to survive where they are. Do you sometimes make bad choices in survival mode? All I'm saying is lets temper t
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Georgetwin
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06-25-08 11:11 AM
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WOW! White/America Haters are coming home to roost.
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needanewmayor
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06-25-08 9:23 AM
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Ok, so I'm an American, but I decide I want to live in Mexico. I move down there, but not through legal channels. I find cheap housing, find day labor work, and I try to avoid being caught by the police/government etc... I don't apply for citizenship, I don't try to learn or speak the language. I want to make Pesos and send them back to my family in the US. But I want the local government, hospitals, etc to help me when I need medicine, food, shelter, etc... Now answer this. 1. Is it fair to the Mexican Government to do this? 2. Is it fair to the hard working Mexican people to do this? 3. Is it something you would do? 4. Do you have a problem with anything in the above paragraph I was doing?
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needanewmayor
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06-25-08 9:19 AM
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Dottie, Thank you for your comments. However, if he's an illegal, in my mind (and you can have your opinion on this, and I have mine) he's not worth our time and effort to find him. I say let him rot and let the woodland creatures have him for dinner. Sorry, but illegals have got to go. I have no sympathy for them. See my next post and then give me your thoughts and be honest.
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MeanStreak
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06-25-08 8:37 AM
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Dottie thanks for your opinion and your caring of human kind. But if you truly are a supporter of this person than you would support LEGAL immigration. It was HIS CHOICE to be here illegal and to jump over that wall. I have little sympathy for stupid behavior.
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MeanStreak
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06-25-08 8:35 AM
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Maestle = illegal immigrant or supporter.
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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06-25-08 8:17 AM
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With record unemployment and an economy in a tailspin, we can ill afford the tremendous loss of AMERICAN jobs to illegals! As I have stated MANY times. Punish the cowardly EMPLOYERS of the illegals!!!!!! ANY employer that hires illegals should lose their business!! And they should be imprisoned for not less than 10 years!!!!!!!! And be fined not less than $100,000 PER illegal!!!!!!! This illegal slave trade MUST be stopped!!!! The government has done and will do little to solve the problem since they have been the SOURCE rather than the SOLUTION!!!! BOYCOTT all companies and businesses using illegals!!!!!
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PCGS70
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06-25-08 8:10 AM
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But first and foremost, I am an American. A vote for Obama is a vote to sell out the American way of life. He wants to give away our hard earned lifestyle - because he says Americans have it too easy. Really? Who paid the price for his easy life? Americans before him gave blood, sweat and tears for him to be where he is today - and to give it away to terrorists and communists - Cuba, Iran, Mexico, Venezuela - is unpatriotic. Vote for McCain to protect our American way of life.
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cory1978
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06-25-08 7:59 AM
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well dottie...if protecting our borders and American people turns your stomach.....you can leave America also!
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tarheelfan
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06-25-08 1:12 AM
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PCGS70---I bet your favorite show is The O'Reilly Factor...isn't it? Or is it the Don Imus Show? You are a waste of space on this earth!
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atoddh
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06-25-08 12:03 AM
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stinger:It was 70 ft or seven stories.It is really hard to believe he lived,got up and ran.I would not make off one story.
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