**Police Officers Held in Custody for Tijuana Merchant’s Disappearance and Murder**
On Friday, October 4, 2024, a review hearing for preventative measures was conducted concerning case 04-2022-39032 involving the forced disappearance of merchant José Alberto Cantero Ramírez. The Tijuana Municipal Police officers implicated in this case have had their justified preventive detention upheld by the judge, despite the defense’s arguments.
The defense attorney for officers Martín Trinidad Martínez and Esteban Heriberto Galaz Gómez, accused of the disappearance and murder of Cantero, presented a report from a private expert. The report suggested that the officers were not a threat to society, based on testimonies from the officers themselves, as well as their mothers and partners. However, the judge dismissed this evidence, considering it biased since it was sourced from individuals closely related to the defendants.
Previously, the defendants had requested a postponement for an intermediate hearing scheduled for November 6, 2024, suggesting they might consider a plea bargain to admit their guilt. Given these circumstances, the judge reinforced the decision to keep the accused in justified preventative detention, resulting in the officers remaining incarcerated.
**Background of the Case**
On September 1, 2022, José Alberto Cantero Ramírez, 40, was driving his black 2021 Grand Cherokee with California license plates along the Transpeninsular Highway and 16 de Septiembre Street in Tijuana’s Libertad neighborhood. Tijuana municipal police officers in a patrol car stopped him without cause, handcuffed him, and placed him in the back of their vehicle. The officers then left the scene, and Cantero’s vehicle was later found abandoned on September 11 in the Alemán neighborhood.
The State Prosecutor’s Office discovered that the officers’ actions were unjustified and that there was no police report filed. An arrest warrant was issued for the officers, and both were arrested on September 22. Investigators found large sums of money in the officers’ homes, allegedly belonging to Cantero.
On September 27, a judge charged the officers with the willful and forced disappearance of Cantero Ramírez, although his whereabouts remained unknown until his body was discovered on September 2. The severely burned body was identified 29 days later using genetic testing.
**Secondary Article: Impact on the Community and Broader Implications**
The disappearance and murder case of José Alberto Cantero Ramírez have sent shockwaves through the Tijuana community, raising serious concerns about police accountability and corruption in the region. Local citizens are demanding justice and reforms to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The broader implications of this case highlight the urgent need for enhanced oversight of law enforcement practices in Mexico. Human rights organizations are calling for comprehensive investigations into similar cases of forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, asserting that these are systemic issues that require immediate government attention.
As the trial proceeds, public attention remains focused on ensuring transparency and accountability. It’s crucial for the judicial system to demonstrate its capacity to deliver justice and maintain public trust in law enforcement institutions. This case, among others, serves as a reminder of the challenges facing Mexico’s legal and policing systems, prompting ongoing discussions about policing reforms and the protection of human rights.