HSI assists in arrest of El Paso man who threatened to commit robbery, murder
EL PASO, Texas – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso special agents assisted Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers on Wednesday to arrest a local man who threatened to rob local businesses and commit murder.
Cesar Omar Hita, 47, was taken into custody June 1 without incident on I-10 in front of a local shopping center after DPS was notified about a phone call from Hita, who threatened to commit robbery and murder.
“Close coordination among HSI and our law enforcement partners proved invaluable in thwarting a potential deadly incident,” said Frank B. Burrola, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI is committed to leveraging its full support and resources to keep our community safe. In fact, we all have a role in protecting our community; if you see something, say something.”
HSI special agents, DPS Criminal Investigations Division (CID) special agents, and Texas Highway Patrol officers worked jointly to locate Hita inside his vehicle on I-10 east; a felony traffic stop was conducted, and he was arrested. A loaded pistol was found in his vehicle. Hita is charged with terroristic threat, a state charge. He posted $50,000 bail on June 3.
HSI is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
Updated: