A San Benito resident, Damian Evans Lopez, has been sentenced to federal prison after attempting to run over an FBI agent during an arrest in a stolen vehicle. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced the sentence.
Lopez, aged 23, admitted guilt on September 9 for assaulting a federal officer. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera imposed a 110-month prison term followed by two years of supervised release. The sentence was increased due to the use of a motor vehicle as a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment during flight, and official victim adjustments. During the hearing, it was revealed that Lopez had previously endangered law enforcement and the public with three felony convictions related to evading arrest using vehicles.
The incident occurred on June 28 when an FBI agent was investigating stolen vehicles being exported illegally into Mexico. The agent spotted a stolen Chevrolet truck near the Gateway International Bridge Port of Entry in Brownsville and requested assistance.
Wearing FBI gear with visible law enforcement markings, the agent approached the vehicle and asked Lopez to exit from the driver’s seat. Instead of complying, Lopez turned the wheels and accelerated toward the agent aggressively.
The agent narrowly avoided serious injury or death by jumping out of the way as Lopez sped off.
Lopez was later captured in San Benito after a high-speed chase through Brownsville streets and onto the freeway, reaching speeds over 100 mph. He remains in custody awaiting transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Brownsville Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro prosecuting.