LAPD officer arrested near Mexico border, accused of trying to bring two people into U.S. illegally
A Los Angeles Police Department officer has been charged with attempting to transport two people in the country illegally through an immigration checkpoint in Southern California.
A federal court filing Wednesday said Mambasse Koulabalo Patara was arrested this week at a San Diego County checkpoint about 12 miles north of the border with Mexico.
According to the complaint, Patara had two people in his car and appeared nervous when questioned. The documents said the officer was taken into custody after his passengers said they were not U.S. citizens.
The filing said Patara, who was off-duty, showed his LAPD identification and had his service weapon inside the vehicle.
His passengers were detained by Border Patrol officers.
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