Blaine, Wash - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers apprehended a Phoenix, Arizona man on May 21 who was wanted in San Diego, California for alleged sexual assault.
Officers arrested 71-year-old Christopher Darling, upon his arrival to the United States at the Pacific Highway port of entry as a commercial driver, when a name check revealed that he was the subject of a National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) felony warrant.
"Arresting fugitives from justice is an essential element in our border security effort," said Area Port Director Gregory Alvarez. "The use of technology based tools such as instantaneous name checks are helping us keep America secure."
After verification of the warrant for arrest with the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, Darling was immediately taken into custody by CBP officers and turned over to the Washington State Patrol for extradition to San Diego.
NCIC is the abbreviation for National Crime Information Center, which is a centralized automated database designed to share information among law enforcement agencies. These warrants are for a wide range of offense including money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual abuse of children, violation of protection orders, fraud, failure to appear, larceny and military desertion.
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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.