By Juan Carlos Valdez Arenzana
Road safety in the State of Mexico has reached a new and worrying level after lawyer and influencer Rubén Arenzana, better known on social media as “Ru Abogado,” exposed an individual impersonating a state police officer on the Periférico Norte (Northern Ring Road). The encounter, which took place in a highly tense atmosphere, not only resulted in a physical attack against the content creator but also revealed a practice that appears to operate with impunity in the area.
According to videos shared by the victim himself, a man on a motorcycle, without official identification or a regulation uniform, pulled over the lawyer’s vehicle and asked for his documents under the pretext of a routine check. When the man got out to talk, “Ru Abogado” noticed several irregularities in the stop, which led to a confrontation that ended with the alleged imposter physically assaulting the lawyer. The released footage shows the individual without any insignia or official vehicle to prove his affiliation with any law enforcement agency.
Following the attack, the influencer not only reported the incident to his followers but also launched a citizen investigation that led to the identification of the alleged perpetrator. Unofficially, and through various digital platforms, the name Armando Pastor Salinas began circulating as the likely perpetrator of the assault and impersonation. As of press time, authorities in the State of Mexico have neither confirmed nor denied this identity, nor have they issued an official statement on the case, which has raised concerns among the public.
This incident is not an isolated event, but rather a reflection of a structural failure in the security of the municipality and the state. The practice of impersonating law enforcement officers has become so normalized that even active or retired members of the very agencies involved in these extortion networks. Just in January 2025, authorities in Naucalpan identified and arrested Fernando ‘N’, a former member of the General Directorate of Citizen Security who, using his knowledge, was extorting motorists.
The problem escalates to crisis proportions when considering the figures from the State of Mexico Attorney General’s Office itself, which recently arrested 44 people who were impersonating law enforcement officers. However, these operations appear to be only a small sample of the phenomenon, as the lack of institutional capacity to contain it is evident. At the close of 2025, the Naucalpan Municipal Police had over 110 open investigations against its own officers for alleged irregularities, including acts of corruption in the same area of the Periférico Norte (Northern Ring Road), with 140 officers dismissed that year alone.
While motorists are victims of this legal and physical insecurity, official statements stand in stark contrast to the reality on the ground. The municipal government, headed by Isaac Montoya, has promoted a discourse of “zero tolerance for corruption” and a supposed purge of the police force. However, “Ru Abogado” (The Lawyer) has repeatedly denounced that officers are required to collect bribes to meet revenue targets.
This double standard is exacerbated by the authorities’ abrupt reaction against those who document these practices. In a previous incident related to the same issue, the lawyer was arrested by municipal officers instead of the corrupt officer, under the pretext of “disturbing the peace.” Citizens seem to be on their own against these groups; the perception of insecurity in the Valley of Mexico remains at critical levels, where more than 8 out of 10 residents feel there are no guarantees of safety while traveling.
This case highlights an uncomfortable reality: the main risk while driving on the Periférico Norte (Northern Ring Road) is not an accident, but rather encountering an armed individual with a false sense of authority who seeks to steal the property or endanger the safety of drivers.
Citizens face a chilling dilemma:
♦️How can you distinguish between a real police officer and a criminal if both can use the same tactics and even share the same codes?
♦️And what would you do if a stranger in plainclothes signaled you to stop?
♦️Would you trust the authorities to resolve the situation?
The question remains open, pending the State of Mexico Attorney General’s Office ceasing to pretend these acts are isolated incidents and taking decisive action.
Source: mexicodailypost.news
