Cancún Mothers’ Group Detains Police Officer in Dramatic Protest

Members of a group called Searching Mothers of Quintana Roo detained a police officer who they say broke through a barrier they had erected as part of a protest on Xcaret Avenue. The barrier was put up to allow the group to update a mural at the Prosecutor's Office, adding the faces of 13 more missing individuals from Cancún. The officer allegedly breached the barrier at 7pm on Friday, in front of the State Attorney General's Office (FGE), leading the mothers to make a 'citizen's arrest'.

Wendy Galarza, a member of the 9N Victims Committee, explained that the incident began when the mothers were conducting an informational activity within the barriers set up in front of the state prosecutor's office in Cancún. A police officer crossed into the marked-off area and verbally insulted the mothers, claiming she had the authority to do so as a police officer and "the boss". Galarza also mentioned that shortly after, the municipal secretary of Citizen Security, Carlos Ernesto D'amiano, along with some Internal Affairs personnel, encouraged them to file a complaint about the incident.

The Searching Mothers claimed that the officer was intoxicated, as were all her colleagues. The group is calling for the immediate dismissal of the officer and for her to take a breathalyzer test at the location where they have detained her.

Several hours after her 'citizen's arrest', the officer was moved to the vicinity of the prosecutor's office. Internal affairs stated that she would sign her "voluntary" resignation and would subsequently be handed over to the authorities for disturbing public order.