SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Coast Guard fired warning rounds and pepper balls at a boat that crossed into U.S. territory with no lights then attempted to flee off the coast of Imperial Beach in southern San Diego County on Saturday.
The Coast Guard reports a San Francisco-based Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team found three people — two who claimed Mexican nationality and one who claimed Turkish nationality — in a 20-foot boat about six miles west of Imperial Beach at 4 p.m. Saturday.
According to the Coast Guard, the MSST SF law enforcement team watched as the boat crossed the maritime boundary line with no navigational lighting.
The Coast Guard reports the crew tried to stop the boat, which reportedly initially complied, but then attempted to flee when notified of an impending boarding.
In an effort to stop the boat, the Coast Guard reports the crew fired two LA-51 warning rounds and three rounds of pepper ball munitions at the boat.
The crew was able to then board the boat and took all three people on board to Department of Homeland Security partners at Ballast Point.
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