BWC: Texas trooper finds 16 migrants behind false wall in trailer during traffic stop

By Joanna Putman
Police1

KENNEDY COUNTY, Texas — A Houston man faces felony charges of human smuggling after Texas Department of Public Safety troopers discovered 16 migrants hidden behind a false wall in a trailer, Click2Houston reported.

Trending

Legal

Former NYPD cop slams light sentence for protester after being forced to retire due to injuries from 2020 response

Lt. Richard Mack’s orbital bone was broken when he was struck by at least two different protesters in a 2020 incident; one of the suspects was sentenced to community service

December 23, 2025 11:23 AM

Officer Down

Trooper and suspect killed in shooting at Del. DMV

The trooper was working an overtime assignment at the reception desk when the 44-year-old gunman walked in, approached the trooper and fired, state police said

December 23, 2025 08:47 PM

Juvenile Crime

BWC: Ohio police capture 11-year-old driver, 8- and 12-year-old passengers after pursuit of stolen car

The juveniles told Newburgh Heights Police that they learned to steal the car by watching YouTube videos

December 23, 2025 10:57 AM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Officer Down

Del. trooper killed at DMV in ‘act of pure evil’ is remembered as dependable, devoted to family

Cpl. Matthew “Ty” Snook, 34, was fatally shot while working an overtime assignment and is credited with pushing a civilian to safety before being struck again

December 24, 2025 03:45 PM

The incident occurred on Sept. 16 when a DPS trooper conducted a traffic stop on a Ford F-250 towing a cargo trailer. According to DPS, the driver consented to a search of the trailer.

Troopers found a false wall in the trailer and, after using drills to remove it, discovered 16 people “crammed inside a small compartment with no air ventilation,” according to the report. DPS reported that the individuals were in the country illegally.

The department released body camera video of the incident, showing the trooper ushering the migrants out of the trailer.

The driver was arrested and charged with 16 counts of smuggling of persons with the likelihood of substantial bodily injury or death. The migrants were referred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for further processing, according to the report.