Lázaro Cárdenas, Q.R. — Two municipal police officers responding to a report of abuse ended up subdued by angry residents. The report was made Tuesday night by residents of Ignacio Zaragoza who had taken after a man accused of abusing a minor.
The two responding officers attempted to rescue the man from the angry mob by using tear gas when those same residents turned on them. Both officers were subdued, one of which was left tied to a pole.
According to witnesses, police officers responded to the 9:00 p.m. report and fired tear gas to disperse the neighbors who were trying to beat their captured suspect. However, their intervention angered the crowd, who reacted by subduing police along with the alleged abuser.
They were tied to a column where they were found by state police. State police were sent in to intervene by the SSC (Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana) to control the situation. After nearly an hour of discussion, neighbors agreed to release the subdued officers and alleged abuser, who was arrested.
In a statement the SSC (Secretary of Citizen Security) said “an incident occurred Tuesday at Km 80 in the Ignacio Zaragoza borough in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, following a report alleging a man attempted to abuse a minor.
“Municipal police intervened, however, due to public outrage, the state police took control of the situation. The accused individual was transferred to the municipality of Benito Juárez to be handed over to the appropriate authorities.
“The family and the victim were also urged to file a complaint. From the SSC, we reaffirm our commitment to work in coordination and in strict adherence to the law.”
Authorities did not say if any of the residents involved in subduing the police officers would face charges.
