Small Town Chiropractor Wanted For Sex Crimes Arrested At Canadian Border

BLAINE, WA — A North Plains chiropractor with a warrant for several sex crimes against a minor was picked up at the Canadian border Thursday night by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, according to a statement from CBP officials.

Hillsboro resident Dr. Shane Espinoza, D.C., 45, was caught at the Peace Arch Land Port of Entry in Blaine, Wash., Thursday night after Hillsboro police released a warrant for his arrest Thursday afternoon, HPD spokesman Lt. Henry Reimann told Patch Friday.

Espinoza is wanted in Hillsboro for unlawful sexual penetration of a minor, sex abuse, sodomy, and rape, CBP officials said. He was turned over to U.S. Marshals pending his extradition back to Washington County. (Sign up for our free daily newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Hillsboro Patch)

"CBP officers remain diligent in their efforts to intercept wanted individuals before they can do further harm to someone," said acting Area Port Director Terry Schulze in a statement. "Our work is vital to protecting our communities and especially those who are vulnerable, such as children."

The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) flagged Espinoza's warrant as he tried to make passage. The NCIC is a centralized, automated database that law enforcement agencies use to share information, which can include outstanding warrants. According to the CBP, its officers use NCIC-flagged warrants to arrest individuals attempting to flee the country for crimes like homicide, unlawful escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual child abuse, fraud, larceny, and military desertion.

Due to the timing of the release of Espinoza's warrant and his subsequent apprehension in Washington at the Canadian border, Reimann told Patch that Espinoza "probably knew something was up."

Photo Courtesy: U.S. Customs and Border Protection