U.S. border agents stop bicycle-borne parolee in Michigan

Ambassador Bridge

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working the international crossing at Ambassador Bridge in Detroit knew something was amiss when they noticed a man riding a bicycle in the Michigan cold in the cargo lanes leading into their checkpoint.

They wound up detaining Stephon Jones, 44, at the Fort Street Cargo Facility on Jan. 18 for an outstanding warrant for parole violation. Officers processing commercial trucks noticed a strange sight as a figure, later determined to be Jones, headed down a closed primary lane on a bicycle, said CBP.

Jones was stopped and asked for identification. According to CBP, Jones replied he didn’t have ID and was lost, unsure how he ended up at the border. CBP agents escorted him into a secondary inspection building and fingerprinted to determine his identity and citizenship. The fingerprint check confirmed his identity and citizenship and turned up an outstanding warrant for a parole violation from the Michigan Department of Corrections. He was arrested and turned over to Detroit Police, said CBP.

“The Ambassador Bridge generally prohibits bicycle traffic so it was rather strange to see someone on a bike in the middle of winter and at the cargo crossing.” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Area Port Director Roderick Blanchard. “I commend the efforts of the CBP Officers for keeping a sharp eye out and maintaining their vigilance”