Prosecutor and two police officers kidnapped and beaten in Ixiamas, La Paz
Residents stormed the prosecutor's office in Ixiamas, detained prosecutor Javier Solís and two police officers, and took them to the community jail. The La Paz Public Ministry demands urgent dialogue and has deployed police reinforcements to the area.
Residents detain prosecutor and two police officers in Ixiamas following arrest order
According to reports from reduno.com.bo, the La Paz Departmental Public Ministry reported the kidnapping, mistreatment and physical assault against Material Prosecutor Javier Solís and two officers of the Bolivian Police in the municipality of Ixiamas. The events unfolded between Monday and Tuesday as a direct reprisal for the execution of an arrest warrant in the framework of the investigation into the homicide of Ignatiy Valisevich, which occurred on 16 September 2016.
Prosecutor Solís executed an arrest warrant based on article 226 of the Code of Criminal Procedure against a resident of the region. The measure mobilised a group of residents and community members who initially sought to meet with the authority. When a police contingent evacuated the detainee to prevent his escape, the mob overwhelmed the controls and violently stormed the prosecutor's office headquarters in Ixiamas.
Beating and transfer to community jail
The community members forcibly detained prosecutor Solís and the two police custodians, assaulting them during transport. Preliminary reports—backed by videos and audio disseminated by neighbours—confirm that the prosecutor was severely beaten, is bloodied and was taken together with the uniformed officers to a community jail. There are also still unclear reports indicating that other local authorities could be affected.
In a press conference, Departmental Prosecutor Gabriel Quiroga and General Coordinator Edwin Sarmiento expressed concern for the life and integrity of those detained and demanded immediate dialogue from the leaders of the area.
"A prosecutor who is carrying out investigative work cannot be seized by individuals and beaten. Community justice or any other justice cannot be a basis or justification for assaulting legally established authorities," Quiroga stated.
The background: a 2016 homicide in oral trial phase
Sarmiento explained that the operation responds to the investigation into the violent death of Ignatiy Valisevich. Although the case is already in the oral trial phase, the discovery of new evidence led to the issuance of the arrest warrant executed against the community member originally from the place, triggering the violent reaction of the population.
The coordinator also noted that the family of prosecutor Solís, who resides with him in the locality, is in a state of anxiety over the events.
Negotiation channel and police reinforcements
The Public Ministry reiterated that the absolute priority is to preserve the lives of the three authorities and urged those mobilised to resort to legal channels. To facilitate a peaceful resolution, the La Paz Departmental Public Ministry enabled the telephone line 78934954 in order to establish direct contact with the leaders heading the measures in Ixiamas.
In parallel, the Bolivian Police deployed a reinforcement contingent to the area to guarantee security and restore institutional order in the municipality.
Source: Google News BO — La Paz