Four police officers charged with homicide and torture in death of Donovan Balanta in Soacha
The Public Prosecutor's Office charged four uniformed officers with aggravated homicide and torture in connection with the death of Donovan Balanta at Cazucá station in Soacha.
Four police officers charged in death of Donovan Balanta at Cazucá station
A specialised prosecutor charged four police officers with aggravated homicide and aggravated torture, allegedly responsible for the death of 34-year-old Donovan Balanta Paz following his detention at Cazucá police station in Soacha. According to lafm.com.co, the uniformed officers subjected him to blows and electrical discharges from a taser-type device on 20 September.
The four charged are a major, a sub-superintendent and two patrol officers, arrested simultaneously in operations conducted in Soacha and Barbosa (Santander).
Arrest in Caracolí neighbourhood and aggression in custody
According to evidence collected by the Public Prosecutor's Office, Balanta Paz was detained in the Caracolí neighbourhood in south Bogotá during a procedure to resolve a dispute between neighbours that escalated into a confrontation between civilians and uniformed officers.
"Initially, he was accused of throwing a blunt object at a group of police officers. A sub-superintendent and three patrol officers allegedly reacted by handcuffing him, striking him with fists and kicks to the head and abdomen, and subjecting him to electrical discharges from a taser-type device," said the prosecutor in charge of the case.
According to investigations, following his detention Balanta Paz was transferred to Cazucá station, where the aggression and electrical shocks allegedly continued.
Calls for help ignored
The delegate prosecutor indicated that evidence shows Balanta Paz requested medical attention on repeated occasions, as he had difficulty breathing and felt intense chest pain. Another detained person also asked that he be helped. Despite these warning signs, he did not receive timely assistance.
"The coordinated work of the Specialised Directorate against Violations of Human Rights and the Cundinamarca Section made it possible to identify the uniformed officers implicated in the aggression suffered by the man during his apprehension and time at Cazucá station, as well as the possible failure to provide medical assistance despite his repeated cries for help," said the delegate prosecutor.
Death in hospital and forensic findings
Approximately twenty minutes after losing consciousness, Balanta Paz was taken to a hospital, where he died on the night of 20 September, according to the CTI report.
The findings of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences determined that the cause of death was a cardiac arrhythmia caused by the electrical discharges. CTI experts also documented burns and other injuries on the victim's body.
Major accused of failing to follow protocols
The Public Prosecutor's Office alleges that the major, commander of Cazucá station, failed to activate medical care protocols, failed to prevent the aggression or electrical discharges, and observed the detained man's physical deterioration without taking action.
lafm.com.co learned that the Public Prosecutor's Office intensified operations to apprehend a fifth person involved and another group of uniformed officers under investigation for omission in the face of the aggression and calls for help from Balanta Paz himself.
Source: Google News CO — Bogotá