For high-impact crimes such as homicide and forced disappearance, two Mexicali municipal police officers were arrested in less than 24 hours; one of them resisted arrest and was allegedly carrying doses of methamphetamine.
Attorney General Ma. Elena Andrade Ramírez, head of the Baja California State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), confirmed this on Wednesday, October 1, at Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda’s weekly press conference.
This concerns the cases of Víctor Alfonso “N” and Joel “N,” reported on Tuesday, September 30, and this Wednesday, October 1. A video of the former even circulated on social media showing him confronting officers upon being arrested in the parking lot of a shopping mall in Mexicali.
Andrade Ramírez explained that the State Citizen Security Force (FESC) arrested Víctor Alfonso and stated that he behaved in an “arrogant” and even “threatening” manner.
It was also reported that he was allegedly in possession of 14 packages of methamphetamine; the charges filed were attempted homicide, forced disappearance, contempt of authority, and possession of methamphetamine.
“(He was) in possession of some quantities of methamphetamine. And we have him detained in flagrante delicto to review his legal status. And yes: an investigation is underway against this officer and the second one who was arrested for high-impact crimes, but we are at that stage. These two officers did have an arrest warrant,” Andrade Ramírez stated during the morning press conference.
The second officer was arrested in the Lagos del Sol neighborhood and apparently had an arrest warrant, but the charges were not disclosed.
Yesterday, the Mexicali Municipal Public Security Directorate, headed by Luis Felipe Chan Baltazar, distanced itself from the matter through an information sheet stating that Víctor Alfonso had resigned “voluntarily” during the first days of September.
“It should be noted that days prior to his resignation, this individual had multiple absences and incapacities, which are under investigation, which is why he was no longer part of the corporation’s operational work,” they added, while assuring that they will be “open” to providing the “collaboration that may be required for the corresponding inquiries.”
Regarding whether more uniformed officers are under investigation, the prosecutor stated that “in this case, they are the only two officers,” and withheld further details because the investigation is ongoing.
Source: proceso
