News Releases

Canadian sentenced for fleeing checkpoint at U.S. - Canada border

SEATTLE - A Canadian who fled the Blaine, Wash., port of entry inspection station was sentenced Friday to 15 months in prison, following an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Trevor Doyle, 22, of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, pleaded guilty in September 2010 to one count of impeding and interfering with federal officers and one count of flight from an immigration checkpoint. He had been arrested two months earlier.

According to court documents in the case, Doyle was driving a stolen minivan when he approached the Peace Arch port of entry. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer asked him for his identification. When Doyle said he did not have any identification, the CBP officer asked him to turn off the vehicle's engine.

Ignoring the officer's order, Doyle accelerated through the checkpoint, ran over several orange barrier barrels and swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle in the inspection area. At that point, he was driving directly towards a CBP officer who, in self-defense, fired two rounds of ammunition at Doyle's vehicle.

Doyle drove out of the inspection area and began driving south on Interstate 5. CBP officers pursued him in marked vehicles. Within 15 minutes, the minivan was located, abandoned on a street in Blaine. Doyle was located in nearby bushes a few minutes later and was arrested.

"The criminal behavior of this defendant jeopardized the safety of law enforcement and needlessly frightened members of the public who were around the port of entry that summer day," said Leigh Winchell, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in the Pacific Northwest. "HSI will investigate those who disrespect our nation's borders and work with our law enforcement partners to ensure they face justice in the United States."

The CBP officer who shot at Doyle's vehicle sustained injuries to his elbow and back.

He was treated at a local hospital for his injuries and has returned to work.

The investigation was conducted by the HSI-led Border Enforcement Security Taskforce with assistance from the Washington State Patrol and CBP.