Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Four Tulum Municipal Transit Cops In Quintana Roo, MX Charged For The Murder Of Salvadorian Immigrant Victoria Esperanza Salazar Arriaza

Salazar Arriaza had her back broken while being subdued in Tulum by three males and one female who were identified as municipal transit police officers in the State of Quintana Roo in Mexico.


By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 31, 2021

Tulum, Quintana Roo, MX - Four Tulum Municipal transit police officers, three males and one female have been charged with the murder of Victoria Esperanza Salazar Arriaza, 36, who was residing in Tulum under a legal visa for humanitarian purposes, but is originally from Sonsonate, El Salvador.

A video that went viral on Saturday, showed the Tulum Municipal transit police officers subduing Salazar Arriaza at a corner while a female transit officer had her knee on her neck blocking the victim from breathing and another transit male officer had his knee on her back. The victim died at the scene while handcuffed.

The transit cops are later seen lifting the lifeless body of Salazar Arriaza into the back of the Municipal transit police truck while still handcuffed.

Salazar Arriaza was allegedly intoxicated and was blocking traffic when the transit police attempted to detain her. She didn't resist, but was killed in the process of being detained.

The Quintana Roo Medical Examiner's autopsy indicated that Salazar Arriaza suffered a broken spine (back) and had both the first and second vertebraes were fractured, which resulted in asphyxiation.

The former Tulum Police Chief Jesús Pérez Abarca was replaced by Nesguer Ignacio Vicencio Méndez and the four transit cops involved in Salazar Arriaza's death were arrested, charged for murder and jailed awaiting further court proceedings. 

If convicted for murder, each transit cop is facing up to 50 years in prison. The three male suspects were identified as Miguel Ángel C, 34; Raúl L, 35, both from Valladolid Yucatán and Juan C. The female suspect who placed her knee on the victim was identified as Verónica V, 42, from Mérida, Yucatán.

Salazar Arriaza is survived by two daughters in El Salvador ages 15 and 17. 

The body of Salazar Arriaza will be returned to El Salvador for funeral services.

The family of Salazar Arriaza are seeking justice and protests in Tulum are calling for the Tulum Municipal transit police officers involved to face justice. Transit police in Mexico are not authorized to engage in criminal law enforcement or arrests, but only deal with traffic violations.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has condemned the deadly act and says that the transit officers involved in Salazar Arriaza's murder will be prosecuted to the fullest extend of the law.

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