Five Playa del Carmen police officers are accused of the death of a fisherman arrested last Sunday during an altercation on a beach near the city’s tourist area.
Videos posted on social media show the final moments of fisherman Pablo Esteban at Pelícanos Beach, where he worked as a tourist service provider.
Everything seems to indicate that the altercation began with the probable theft of a cell phone, which was allegedly mistakenly attributed to the deceased. The released footage shows the moment he was captured at sea after resisting police arrest.
In a subsequent shot, Pablo Esteban is seen handcuffed on the sand, desperately pleading for the restraints on his wrists to be loosened, as they felt tight.
A group of police officers and civilians, some of them also fishermen, can be seen surrounding him. Hours later, family and friends reported his death.
Playa del Carmen Government Justifies Itself
Following protests from the fishing and water service providers’ union, one of the most important in this tourist town, the Playa del Carmen government, headed by Estefanía Mercado Asencio, a member of the Morena party, informed the community of the alleged cause of the 33-year-old man’s death.
It was reported that after his arrest, he was taken to the town’s General Hospital for medical attention, as he presented symptoms consistent with the alleged use of illegal substances. The official statement stated that his death occurred at the hospital.
However, on Wednesday, the victim’s relatives began circulating the request for a death certificate from the Quintana Roo Prosecutor’s Office. The document states that the probable causes of the fisherman’s death were asphyxiation and blows to the head. This contradicted the local government’s version.
Pablo Esteban was buried on Tuesday in the Playa del Carmen cemetery.
Finally, on Wednesday afternoon, the city council announced that five police officers involved in the arrest had been removed from their posts while administrative and criminal investigations are conducted.
Source: proceso
