Federals battle Local Police during Labor Dispute

Mexico: 5 Federal Police Wounded in Standoff With Local Cops

A revolt by local police who barricaded themselves inside a station for nearly two weeks in a labor protest erupted in a clash that wounded least five federal agents in southern Mexico on Friday.

Between 250 and 300 local police officers have been hunkered down in the station in the town of Santa Maria Coyotopec for the last 13 days to demand raises and better working conditions, the Oaxaca state government said in a statement.

They shot at federal police who tried to remove them Friday, the government alleged. Five federal agents were wounded in the legs by bullet shrapnel, but their lives were said not to be in danger.

Some of the local officers contended it was not them but rather federal agents who opened fire in the pre-dawn confrontation.

"The federal police tried to get in through the main door, but my companions reacted and the clash began," said a policeman inside the compound who gave his name as only Luis for fear of possible reprisals.

Jeyco Perez, identified as one of the leaders of the revolt, told Milenio TV that they were only using shields to defend themselves and had not fired weapons.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw the local officers carrying batons and riot shields, but no weapons were readily visible. The entry to the station was barricaded with a truck and metal fencing.

The locals captured at least three federal officers but later released them.

One, Mauricio Villela, said he was not harmed during his seven hours of captivity. He denied that it was federal police who opened fire, saying, "We did not shoot."

Hundreds of police remained in the area of the station, which the state government said holds more than 3,000 firearms and nearly 500,000 rounds of ammunition.

Oaxaca state security commissioner Victor Altamirano told Milenio that the operation seeks to keep those munitions from being misused by the local police.

Just before midday about 50 people who were apparently civilian residents of Santa Maria Coyotepec gathered at the station holding signs in support the protest.

The town is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) south of the state capital, also named Oaxaca.

A revolt by local police who barricaded themselves inside a station for nearly two weeks in a labor protest erupted in a clash that wounded least five federal agents in southern Mexico on Friday.

Between 250 and 300 local police officers have been hunkered down in the station in the town of Santa Maria Coyotopec for the last 13 days to demand raises and better working conditions, the Oaxaca state government said in a statement.

They shot at federal police who tried to remove them Friday, the government alleged. Five federal agents were wounded in the legs by bullet shrapnel, but their lives were said not to be in danger.

Some of the local officers contended it was not them but rather federal agents who opened fire in the pre-dawn confrontation.

"The federal police tried to get in through the main door, but my companions reacted and the clash began," said a policeman inside the compound who gave his name as only Luis for fear of possible reprisals.

Jeyco Perez, identified as one of the leaders of the revolt, told Milenio TV that they were only using shields to defend themselves and had not fired weapons.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw the local officers carrying batons and riot shields, but no weapons were readily visible. The entry to the station was barricaded with a truck and metal fencing.

The locals captured at least three federal officers but later released them.

One, Mauricio Villela, said he was not harmed during his seven hours of captivity. He denied that it was federal police who opened fire, saying, "We did not shoot."

Hundreds of police remained in the area of the station, which the state government said holds more than 3,000 firearms and nearly 500,000 rounds of ammunition.

Oaxaca state security commissioner Victor Altamirano told Milenio that the operation seeks to keep those munitions from being misused by the local police.

Just before midday about 50 people who were apparently civilian residents of Santa Maria Coyotepec gathered at the station holding signs in support the protest.

The town is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) south of the state capital, also named Oaxaca.

Mexicans being shot by Police in USA

MEXICO CITY — President Enrique Peña Nieto lashed out Friday at what he called the “disproportionate use of lethal force” by police officers in Washington state that led to the death of an unarmed Mexican migrant.
Peña Nieto joined lawmakers in condemning the death of Antonio Zambrano Montes, a 35-year-old orchard worker who was slain by police officers in Pasco, Wash., on Tuesday. Video of the incident shows an unarmed Zambrano with his arms in the air slumping to the sidewalk after police officers open fire from a short distance away.
“I have ordered the Foreign Secretariat to offer support to the family . . . and to carefully follow the investigation into this lamentable and outrageous act,” Peña Nieto said.
Earlier in the day, the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Mexico’s Congress, condemned the shooting of Zambrano as an “act that outrages all Mexicans.”
“We voice our strongest condemnation of these acts of police brutality,” a statement from the leadership of the 500-seat legislative body said.
The statement followed a condemnation issued late Thursday by Mexico’s Foreign Secretariat, which accused Pasco police officers of using “disproportionate” force against Zambrano, who emigrated to the United States 10 years ago.
“The government of Mexico deeply condemns incidents in which force is used in a disproportionate manner, even more so when that use of force leads to loss of life,” the statement said.
A statement from the government of the Mexican state of Michoacan, where Zambrano grew up, called Zambrano’s death “murder.”
Three police officers in Pasco chased down Zambrano and shot him after he allegedly hurled rocks at automobiles and the officers. Pasco, in southeast Washington state, has a large community of Mexican residents.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/02/13/256646/mexico-denounces-police-killing.html#storylink=cpy

Bus Train Collision Mexico

Mexico bus-train collision kills 16

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Saturday 14 February 2015 10.58

The collision happened when the bus was attempting to cross rail tracks in the city of Anahuac, Nuevo Leon

At least 16 people were killed and 30 were injured when a freight train slammed into a packed passenger bus in northeastern Mexico last night, authorities said, warning the death toll could rise.
The collision happened when the bus was attempting to cross rail tracks in the city of Anahuac, Nuevo Leon, state civil protection chief Jorge Camacho told AFP.
The accident occurred just after 5pm (11pm Irish time) at Camarones station, near the border with the United States.
Two children were among the 16 dead, said Mayor Desiderio Urteaga, although other local officials warned that the final toll could be nearer to at least 20 because some passengers were trapped after the crash.

Images broadcast by local media showed the bus smashed open and split in half by the force of the train.
Nine women and five men were identified among the dead, in addition to the two children, Mr Camacho said.
Of the 30 people injured, 22 were taken to hospitals in the nearby border town of Nuevo Laredo, around 60km away.
The bus, which normally transports around 40 people, was traveling with 60 passengers, as it made its way from Nuevo Laredo to the northern city of Nueva Rosita.
Mr Camacho said an investigation was under way to determine whether the bus driver was trying to beat the train when the vehicle was struck.
But prosecutors would determine the cause of the accident who was responsible, he added.
There was no fog or rain in the area at the time, he said.
Prosecutors were already at the scene.

Gang Member Threatened Police

A reputed member of the Vallucos prison gang threatened a  police sergeant early Sunday morning and attempted to fight another policeman at the city jail.
Police arrested 24-year-old Michael A. Montoya after a fight near the 17th Street bar district, according to police reports filed with the McAllen Municipal Court.
Montoya repeatedly threatened the officers who arrested him, according to court records. When police said they would charge him for making threats against them, Montoya apparently wasn’t impressed.
“I don’t give a (expletive),” Montoya said, according to the police report. “I’ve done hard time and that ain’t shit to me (expletive).”
After arresting Montoya, police drove him to the intersection of Bicentennial Boulevard and Chicago Avenue.
A witness at the intersection recognized Montoya — a short, stocky man with neck tattoos — and told police that Montoya had participated in a fight. During the fight, several men attacked another man with a metal rod and yelled that they were connected with the Vallucos, according to the witness.
Police told Montoya they would add aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to the charges against him.
“I told you (expletive), I don’t give a (expletive),” Montoya said, according to the police report. “I’m going to look for you when I get out and (expletive) you up.”
When Montoya arrived at the McAllen Public Safety Building, a jailer removed his handcuffs. Montoya clenched his fists and taunted the officer who arrested him, according to the police report.
“Come on (expletive), I told you I was going to (expletive) you up,” Montoya said, according to the police report.
The policeman ignored Montoya.
Police charged Montoya with two counts of obstruction or retaliation against a peace officer, a third-degree felony; and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony.
A judge set Montoya's combined bond at $300,000 for the three felony charges.
Montoya hadn't posted bond by Wednesday morning and remained at the Hidalgo County jail.