Mexicali and Tijuana were among the 50 most violent cities nationwide, according to statistics released recently by the Executive Secretary of the National Public Safety Commission.
According to the list, Tijuana is second in Mexico with 460 murders reported, just below Acapulco, Guerrero, but above violent cities like Culiacán, Sinaloa and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.
The federal agency reported 56,039 crimes committed in Baja California during the year, which turns the state fifth nationwide.
Congresswoman Nancy Sánchez said the inclusion of the state´s cities on the list is a sign of alarm that makes state and local authorities to launch measures to recover residents´ tranquility.
With no specific details, the Mexican lawmaker said her Institutional Revolutionary Party seeks to include on the legislative agenda issues regarding citizen´s safety and democratic justice.
“State and municipal governments must strengthen their preventive actions on the issue and combat crime in all its manifestations,” she said.
Unfortunately, in the last months Tijuana has observed an increase in the number of murders that must worry local authorities in order to launch strategies of intelligence and prevention before the situation goes out of control, Sánchez said.
According to the lawmaker from Mexicali, the federal government has provided funds to strengthen public safety to the state and city governments.
Murder suspect arrested
State and federal police officers arrested Saturday in a rural town a man for violation of his probation parole, said the state Secretary of Public Safety.
In a press release, authorities said Cesar Anthony Monzon, 26, of Indio, was arrested at Niños Héroes Avenue at Ejido Nayarit rural town in Mexicali Valley.
Indio Police Department notified Mexicali authorities the suspect´s whereabouts, said Preventive Police Department Chief Rodolfo Luna, who said the suspect was determined to be a dangerous criminal in the U.S.
State and federal agents observed the suspect and detained him immediately.
After confirming the suspect´s identity, Monzon was arrested and transported to the state police headquarters.
Monzon was indicted for homicide in 2012 and was under probation.
U.S. authorities put an electronic bracelet on the suspect, Luna said.
On Aug. 7, the suspect and three other individuals allegedly killed another person, Luna said.
Monzon was turned to the Mexican National Immigration Institute for his deportation.
Teenagers arrested for robbery
Two minors were arrested Sunday after allegedly taking part on a robbery along with three other males, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said at 4:40 p.m. a robbery was reported at Mango Street and Colorín Street at Fraccionamiento Huertas del Colorado neighborhood.
Police officers arrived on scene and were told by the victim that five suspects threatened him with two firearms to rob his belongings.
Police agents found and arrested Daniel “Doe,” 17 and Luis “Doe,” 15, in possession of two fake .12-caliber shotguns.
The minors were transported to the police headquarters.
