San Benito Police Department Lt. Milton Resendez was a 30-year law enforcement veteran
In San Benito, Texas, Lt. A tragic incident occurred when a police officer, Milton Resendez, chased and shot two men. One of them is from Mexico. The sequence of events began during a routine traffic stop when the suspects fled, changed vehicles, and engaged in a high-speed chase that spanned several cities along the state’s southern border. The accused were finally caught after hours.
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San Benito Police Department Chief Mario Peria told reporters Wednesday that Lt. Milton Resendez was struck in the abdomen by a bullet that slammed into the door of his patrol car. Tragically, the bullet grazed Resendez’s body armor and he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Perea speaks highly of Lt. Milton Resendez, describing him as someone who cares about everyone and has a wonderful rapport with everyone. Resendez’s 30-year tenure as a police officer was impressive.
Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz provided details of the suspects. He identified them as Rogelio Martinez Jr., 18, of Brownsville, and Rodrigo Axel Espinosa Valdez, 23, of Mexico. Both men face multiple charges including murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and evading arrest.
U.S. Valdez’s immigration status, including whether he is in the U.S. legally, remains uncertain as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has yet to respond to inquiries.
The incident took place around 4:30 p.m. Law enforcement officials stopped a speeding truck on the beach on South Padre Island on Tuesday. Two men, two women, and two small children were in the vehicle. As the officer questioned the driver, a passenger started the vehicle and the driver quickly climbed into the bed of the truck before they sped off, Saenz explained.
During the pursuit, two women and children exited the vehicle, and law enforcement detained and questioned them.
Meanwhile, Martinez and Valdez continued in the truck, which led police into Brownsville. A shootout ensued between the two men and law enforcement officers before police eventually lost sight of the truck.
Later, a disabled lorry was identified.
About six hours after the initial traffic stop, law enforcement officers located two men in an SUV in Brownsville, beginning another operation. The chase extended to San Benito when Lt. Milton Resendez was shot. The chase then returned to Brownsville, where the men were eventually arrested after trying to escape from the disabled SUV.
Perea did not say which of the suspects fired at Resendez and did not reveal the exact number of shots fired.
Lieutenant Milton Resendez spent most of his law enforcement career with the San Benito Police Department and his loss is heavy on Chief Perea. Expressing the gravity of the situation, he said, “It’s very difficult right now. We’ve lost one of us. He’s been with us for a long time; he’s not just a colleague, he’s part of our family now.”
It is utterly disgusting that a Texas police officer was killed today in the line of duty.
— Mayra Flores (@MayraFlores_TX) October 18, 2023
The armed suspects were encountered near the coastal border, and one of them was illegally in the country.
Border related violence is real, and American lives remain at risk every day.
Myra Nohemi Flores, a Republican from Texas, has expressed her condemnation of the killing of a Texas police officer in the line of duty on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). She described the incident as “absolutely disgusting” and insisted that armed suspects were encountered near the coastal border, one of whom was in the country illegally. She highlighted the real and persistent problem of border-related violence, saying American lives are at risk every day.
Governor Greg Abbott also released a statement in response to the tragedy, expressing Texans’ collective condolences and condolences to the family and loved ones of Lt. Milton Resendez.
The incident remains under investigation, with the Texas Rangers leading the effort.