LAPD cop charged with smuggling illegal Mexican immigrant into America in the trunk of his SUV

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A Los Angeles police officer who was charged with smuggling a Mexican man into the United States in the trunk of an SUV is being held on a $20,000 bond.

Carlos Quezada Jr appeared in US District Court in San Diego on Monday afternoon after he was arrested on Saturday night trying to enter the US at the city's Otay Mesa port of entry. 

A federal complaint said Quezada, 34, was stopped after an X-ray machine alerted border inspectors to a man hiding in the spare tire area of a Nissan Juke.

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Carlos Quezada Jr was arrested on Saturday at the US border in San Diego with a Mexican man in his trunk

His 31-year-old female passenger, Angelica Godinez, was arrested as well.

Both are charged with 'bringing in illegal alien without presentation', according to NBC Los Angeles.

They are both US citizens.

The man in the trunk has been identified as 26-year-old Antanasio Perez-Avalo.

He is a 'is a Mexican citizen with no legal ability to enter the United States,' US Customs officials told the LA Times.

Quezada and his female passenger, 31, are charged with 'bringing in illegal alien without presentation'

Los Angeles police spokeswoman Rosario Herrera said Quezada has worked at the department for ten years and is assigned to the Hollywood division. 

He is on paid leave until the investigation is completed. 

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said: 'It's a very serious act of misconduct if it's true.'

Both defendants must be back in court on April 9 for a preliminary hearing.