By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
Federal authorities are on the hunt for a human smuggler who struck a Border Patrol agent in the face in southern California, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Â
Authorities were moving in on a suspected smuggler who was helping 14 people navigate the hazardous terrain near Carries Mountain near Jacumba on Sunday night.
The suspect, Martel Valencia-Cortez, 39, is accused of throwing a large rock at Border Patrol agents, striking one of them in the face.
Valencia-Cortez returned fire but didn’t appear to injure him as he fled toward Mexico.
Agents arrested and interviewed the 14 people who were with Valencia-Cortez.
