The Chief of the State Electoral Institute, or IEE in Spanish, called candidates, as well as political party members and leaders to hold a peaceful campaign during the next seven weeks.
In a press release, IEE Chair Javier Garay asked all those involved in the campaigns that began Tuesday to conduct themselves in a civil way and to provide a positive environment that invites voter turnout.
“We reject any violent act among residents and especially with media representatives,” Garay said. “We ask all those involved in the campaigns during the midterm election to conduct themselves peacefully and to comply with law.”
On Friday night, members of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD in Spanish, blocked a reporter who was recording a fight between rival groups within the organization held outside the institute headquarters in Mexicali.
A group was attempting to impede their rivals from registering a list of candidates.
Another fight arose Sunday night at the same place, according to Assemblyman Roberto Dávalos.
On Monday night, the institute’s General Council rejected candidate registration to four political parties, including the PRD.
The campaign period opened Tuesday with most candidates beginning electioneering at the very first minute of the day following state and federal law.
Man robbed at bank
An unknown assailant robbed a man Monday 50,000 pesos and US $600 before making a deposit at a bank in southwestern Mexicali, according to media reports.
Authorities said the suspect took the victim’s money with no violence involved and fled on a Nissan Sentra at Santander Bank located at Plaza Galerías.
The mall is located at the intersection of Lázaro Cárdenas Blvd. and Eleventh Street.
The unidentified suspect was dressed with a red shirt, blue jeans pant, a cap and had a beard.
Several witnesses observed the incident but had no time to react.
State and local police officers arrived on scene.
Four arrested in drug lab
Three men and a woman were arrested in a residence at a rural town with equipment and substances that authorities said were going to be used to make drugs, said the Secretary of Public Safety.
Authorities said the arrests and seizure occurred at a residence at Ejido Tamaulipas after receiving a report.
State police officers arrived at the residence where a 1998 Mazda and a 2005 Toyota Tacoma pickup were observed on scene.
Jesús Antonio Avilés Sánchez, aka “El Chapo”, 38, along with Karla Alicia Ponce Herrera, aka “Choki”, 37, were at the vehicle, while Miguel Alberto Ávila Gámez, 30, and Jesús Ernesto Gámez López, 36, both from Sinaloa, were at the pickup.
Police officers found on scene a .12-caliber shotgun, a refrigerator condenser, bags and containers with several pounds of white and cristal powder, a plastic bathtub, and over 270 liters of different types of liquids, including alcohol.
Authorities said the items were to be transported to another residence to build a laboratory to produce synthetic drugs.
The suspects were turned to federal authorities.
Alleged murderer arrested
A man who authorities believe is the one who killed a woman who was found dead Friday was arrested by state police officers, said the Attorney General’s office.
Assistant Attorney General for Special Investigations David Lozano said the suspect was identified as Oscar Antonio “Doe”, 27.
The woman was found deceased April 8 at Colonia Pueblo Nuevo, just west of the Civic Center, wrapped on blankets and full of blood.
Authorities said the woman’s body had several injuries caused with a knife.
The deceased woman has not been identified.
Authorities also detained woman blocks away on a pickup with a blood-stained women’s pants.
The suspect was booked in Mexicali Jail.
