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  4. CBP Officers in El Paso Capture Second Homicide Suspect in Two Days

CBP Officers in El Paso Capture Second Homicide Suspect in Two Days

Release Date
Thu, 07/22/2010

El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso port of entry on Wednesday took custody of a man wanted on an outstanding murder warrant in Denver. A day earlier they arrested a man being sought by Lakewood, Colorado police on murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges.

The most recent apprehension occurred Wednesday night at the Paso Del Norte pedestrian crossing in downtown El Paso. CBP officers were performing inspections when a man applied for entry. CBP officers scanned the entry document the man presented and received notification that the person had an active warrant. CBP officers took custody of the man and continued their exam. The inspection then revealed that the person was being sought by Denver police on a 2009 homicide warrant and an unlawful flight to avoid prosecution warrant.

CBP officers arrested 63-year-old Arturo Talamantes Chavira, a Mexican citizen with a Denver residence. Chavira is listed on the Denver Crimestoppers webpage as the sixth most wanted person in the Denver area. He was turned over to the El Paso police department and booked into the El Paso County Jail where he is currently detained and awaiting extradition.

A day earlier CBP personnel arrested 28-year-old Edward Gerald Graham of El Paso while performing inspections of people leaving the U.S at the Stanton crossing. Graham had outstanding warrants in Lakewood, Colo., for murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges. He was also turned over to the El Paso police department and booked into the El Paso County Jail.

"Our vigilant examination process generates numerous fugitive apprehensions every week," said William Molaski, U.S. Customs and Border Protection El Paso Port Director. "Finding people who are wanted for murder, sexual assault crimes, robbery and other criminal acts are an important part of the work CBP performs on a daily basis. The public needs to understand that while the inspection process may take time, the results are important as indicated by these two most recent important apprehensions."

During the course of the day Wednesday CBP officers working at the ports of entry in the El Paso area also apprehended four other fugitives, made four drug seizures totaling 21 pounds of cocaine and 128 pounds of marijuana, identified 18 immigration violations, fined six people for agriculture violations, and seized one handgun and ammunition.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021