Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) agents apprehended nearly 20 illegal immigrants Friday morning, but not before they were led on two separate foot chases.

Ute Mountain Police Chief Dusty Whiting said that Towaoc police officer Jason O’Neal was flagged down by an INS agent at approximately 9 a.m. Friday morning.

Whiting said that the INS agent had detained 20 illegal immigrants, who were riding in the back of a Budget rental truck, in the parking lot of Woody’s — a gas station and convenience store just north of the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation line along U.S. Highway 160.

Whiting said that upon contact with the vehicle, the driver of the truck fled from the scene. Officer O’Neal was asked by the INS agent to assist in apprehending the driver, Whiting said.

Whiting said that after a short foot chase the driver of the truck was taken into custody by the two officers.

About an hour later, however, a second illegal immigrant fled into the brush and was pursued by a Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a K-9 dog.

After searching for three hours, the man was still missing and officers abandoned the effort. According to police, the man still remained at large as of press time Friday afternoon.

Whiting said that a description of the man will be made available soon.

While officers were processing the illegal immigrants, a vehicle that was passing by collided with another vehicle, Whiting said.

Two people were extricated from one of the vehicles, but Whiting said he did not know the severity of the injuries.

The accident blocked traffic U.S. Highway 160/666 for about an hour while officers cleared the vehicles out of the road, Whiting said.