Othón P. Blanco, Q.R. — A SSC commander has stepped down from his position after officers were stripped of their weapons during a stop. The incident happened last week when the commander and three officers stopped a white car reported stolen on the highway near the community of Xul-Ha.
During the Thursday afternoon stop, officers are alleged to have demanded a 40,000 peso payment from the occupants of the white Nissan to let them go. The occupants of the vehicle refused to make the payment and called for their own backup.
While police were inspecting the Nissan, readying for an impound and arrests, a second vehicle arrived with armed individuals inside. The armed men, said to be from a criminal organization, got out of their vehicle and aimed their guns at police.
All four were then stripped of their service weapons and equipment but left their police vehicle. The armed group sped off in the two cars.
Since the incident, SSC (Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana) commander Francisco “R” has stepped down from his position at the Secretariat of Citizen Security.
According to inside information, initial investigations led to the administrative decision. State officials are still in search of the service weapons taken from the officers during the stop.
