((UPDATE)) One Captured, Search Continuing for Second Escaped Border Patrol Suspect
((8/4/26 UPDATE))
The overnight search track for the handcuffed suspect that ran from U.S. Border Patrol agents Monday morning took the teams into neighboring St. Tammany Parish along Hwy 190, near Hwy 1077 where the K-9s lost the track. It was called off after midnight.
Due to the incident belonging to Border Patrol and no longer in our jurisdiction, all additional updates on the matter will need to be provided by that agency.
((8/3/26 9p UPDATE))
New information from the U.S Border Patrol is clarifying the identity of the individual who is the focus of an active manhunt at the Tangipahoa-St. Tammany Parish line at this hour.
The agency says 31-year-old Elvin Martinez of Honduras is the unaccounted for arrestee who ran from a traffic stop this morning and was last seen on a trail camera near Firetower Road and Highway 190 in the Robert/Bedico/Goodbee area.
The previously publicized individual, Cesar Contreras, is the registered owner of the vehicle that was pulled over and is currently cooperating with law enforcement in this investigation.
Dog and drone teams along with deputies on 4-wheelers and in UTVs, are still actively searching the area. Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to 911 immediately.
One Captured, Search Continuing for Second Escaped Border Patrol Suspect
ROBERT (August 3, 2026)- The search continues this hour for one of two suspects who ran away from U.S. Border Patrol agents during a traffic stop in the Robert area Monday morning.
At this time, the TPSO and multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are working to help Border Patrol locate 31-year-old Cesar Contreras. He was last seen wearing a long-sleeve camouflage shirt and blue jeans with no shoes on and handcuffed to the front. He is currently believed to be in the wooded area north of I-12 in the Robert/Hammond area, possibly in St. Tammany Parish at this time.
Around 6:45 a.m., Border Patrol agents conducted a traffic stop along eastboundI-12 at the Tangipahoa/St. Tammany parish line. Three Hispanic men in the vehicle were detained; however, the driver and front seat passenger ran from agents; one headed north of the interstate, the other ran south. Both were barefoot and handcuffed to the front.
At some point during the search, 911 received a report of a handcuffed Hispanic man in a blue long-sleeve shirt and khaki pants trying to break into a mobile home on Dusty Lane which runs off of C.C. Road in the Bedico area. At 3 p.m., that suspect, identified as 26-year-old Eduin Gonzalez Avilez of Honduras, was taken back into custody when he emerged from the woods behind the Bedico Creek Trailer Park.
The public is being asked to keep a lookout for Contreras and to call 911 immediately if residents see him or notice something suspicious that could be connected to this investigation.
The TPSO will continue to provide its residents with updates regarding this search effort, however, the U.S. Border Patrol will be the source of any additional information regarding the initiating incident.
TPSO Public Information Office, pio@tpso.org
