Disturbances in Yapacaní: six vehicles destroyed and five police officers injured following attacks on police headquarters
Yapacaní authorities condemn violent attacks on Police Headquarters and announce investigations. Five officers are injured and two people have been detained.
Yapacaní authorities condemn attacks on Police and promise investigations
According to El Deber, the mayor of Yapacaní, Juan Ramos Alanís, together with councillors, community leaders and the police commander of Ichilo province, Lieutenant Colonel Juan José Bustillos Loza, met on Thursday to analyse the violent incidents recorded in the vicinity of Police Headquarters and express their rejection of the attacks.
The disturbances, which occurred on Wednesday, left three police vehicles and three private vehicles destroyed, the latter located within the institution's premises. Five officers were injured during the clashes.
Two people were detained in connection with the incidents. One remains hospitalised at San Juan de Dios hospital in Santa Cruz after suffering burns when an attempt was made to set him on fire; the other received medical attention and is held in police cells in Montero.
During the meeting, the authorities lamented the damage to the police vehicle fleet, noting that the vehicles had been equipped with substantial investments to guarantee patrols and crime prevention in the municipality. Ramos Alanís revealed that he had even contributed his own resources to keep the vehicles in service, which makes the destruction an additional blow to the Police's operational capacity in the area.
The departmental police commander reported that those responsible for the attacks have been fully identified and that investigations and corresponding legal action will be initiated. Among those involved is a minor, with respect to whom the relevant proceedings have already been started.
Pattern of repeated attacks in Ichilo
Wednesday's incidents are not an isolated episode. In previous years, police vehicles were burned in Yapacaní and Santa Fe—the latter following a traffic incident involving officers from the Special Anti-Narcotics Force (Felcn)—. In another previous attack on police facilities, the then commander of Ichilo, Lieutenant Colonel Gary Bellota, was injured, along with other officers.
However, those precedents did not result, as far as is known, in significant investigation outcomes or sanctions against those responsible.
On this occasion, both municipal and police authorities stated that they will not allow the new attacks to go unpunished and committed themselves to bringing those who participated in the incidents before the courts.
Source: El Deber