U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man suspected of smuggling illegal aliens.

The arrest occurred Tuesday after the man was able to evade authorities for three hours. Shortly after 10:00 a.m. Tuesday , Border Patrol agents patrolling on County Highway S-2 , north of Ocotillo , received a report of a silver car travelling north on S-2 , possibly transporting illegal aliens. A vehicle stop was attempted but the car failed to yield to Border Patrol agents. The car continued north on S-2 , then west on Highway 78 towards Julian with Border Patrol units in pursuit. Agents backed off as they passed through Julian but were able to spot the vehicle on Highway 79. At about 1:00 p.m. , the car pulled onto the shoulder of Highway 79 and the driver and passengers bailed out. Agents quickly arrested all three of the passengers but the driver remained hidden in heavy brush and trees. The Border Patrol Tactical Unit was called in to search for the driver and he was located and arrested. The driver , a 40-year old United States citizen , is being held pending criminal prosecution. Two of the passengers were illegal aliens from Mexico , while the third , also in the U.S. Illegally , is from El Salvador.