Deputies work Operation Border Star to great success in Gonzales County

It was a successful week for Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office deputies working Operation Border Star activities throughout the county as there were several arrests made due to the diligent work of law enforcement.

Operation Border Star (OBS) is a federally funded grant which is designed to target the apprehension of wanted people, illegal aliens, firearms smuggling, human smuggling, currency smuggling, narcotics smuggling and the recovery of stolen vehicles.

This grant is utilized by current staff members to provide additional man-power within Gonzales County, while providing GCSO staff with additional overtime opportunities without a cost to Gonzales County taxpayers.

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, a deputy assigned to OBS, working with a Nixon Police Department sergeant, executed an arrest warrant in the 200 block of South Congress Avenue in Nixon. Federico Vargas, 47, was taken into custody for an indictment warrant for Aggravated Sexual Assault and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond. U.S. Customs and Immigration will be contacted for a detainer as the suspect was in the United States illegally.

During the overnight hours on Thursday, Feb. 6, deputies assigned to OBS executed two arrest warrants for individuals wanted out of Gonzales County. Edward Mendez, 49, of Gonzales was arrested for Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information, while Jazmine Gonzalez, 36, of Gonzales was arrested for Probation Violation for Robbery.

Both were booked into the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office Jail. Mendez remains jailed in lieu of $25,000 bond, while Gonzalez is jailed in lieu of $50,000 bond.

At about 10:15 a.m. Feb. 6, deputies assigned to Operation Border Star received information from OnStar regarding a potential stolen vehicle on the northern side Gonzales County. Deputies were able to canvas the area, where the stolen vehicle was recovered.

The Gonzales County Sheriff's Office continues to establish relationships amongst other sheriff's offices throughout the state of Texas and state of Louisiana in order to prevent the theft of motor vehicles while also apprehending the offenders that commit these thefts.

Hours later, at about 4:32 p.m. Feb. 6, deputies assigned to Operation Border Star were monitoring traffic on Interstate 10 when they observed a white Nissan truck being drawn by another vehicle.

When deputies performed registration checks on the two vehicles, it was revealed the Nissan was reported as stolen from Galveston County and the vehicle had been used to smuggle illegal aliens along the southern border of Texas, according to information revealed during the investigation.

On Friday, Feb. 7, deputies assigned to Operation Border Star conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of US-90A West in Gonzales, where they executed an arrest warrant on the driver of the vehicle. Brian Cooper of New Braunfels was taken into custody for an outstanding warrant, Failure To Appear for Interfering With Public Duties.

Finally, at about 9:38 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, a Gonzales County Sheriff's deputy observed a black Ford F-150 commit several traffic violations within the 16000 block of SH-80. The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the violator vehicle; however, the driver had other plans. 

The violator continued north before traveling west on FM 466, where the driver exited the vehicle and began shouting obscenities at the deputy. The deputy gave verbal commands to the violator to surrender; however, the violator returned to the vehicle and continued the pursuit. The vehicle turned around, now heading east on FM 466 and then north on SH-80.

The vehicle continued north, where the driver exited the vehicle while still in motion and ran into the wooded area, west of this area.

Deputies assigned to Operation Border Star, as well as a member of the Gonzales County Sheriff's office Unmanned Aircraft Team (drone), responded to assist.

With the assistance of the unmanned aircraft, Texas Department of Public Safety and several deputies, the male was located and swiftly apprehended after he was removed from the tree he attempted to conceal in, approximately 15 feet above ground level.

Matthew Todd of Corpus Christi was booked into the Gonzales County Jail where he was charged with  Evading Arrest/Detention W/ Vehicle, Evading Arrest/Detention, Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon, Unlawful Carry Weapons, Criminal Mischief >=$100<$750 and Evading Arrest/Detention (Enhanced Felony 3 Warrant from Comal County).