3 Mexican police officers held on weapons charges
9:26 a.m. September 13, 2007
The head of the Baja California State Preventive police and two other Mexican police officials were arrested on weapons charges after allegedly buying three handguns and 450 rounds of ammunition at a Phoenix gun show.
Foreigners are banned from purchasing weapons and ammunition in the United States.
Carlos Alberto Flores, 36, commander of Baja California's 432-member state police force was booked Saturday into the Maricopa County Jail. Also booked were his companions, Guillermo Valle Medina, 33, a commander who works under Flores, and Jose Santos Cortes Gonzalez, a member of Mexico's Federal Preventive Police assigned to Baja California.
The three Mexican officers have been charged with misconduct involving weapons, conspiracy, and being aliens in possession of firearms and ammunition, said Tom Mangan, a spokesman with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The men “fell under our radar” Saturday at the gun show, Mangan said.
“They were under surveillance ...when agents and officers observed them negotiating their purchase,” he said.
The three were arrested shortly after driving away from the show. Police seized three semi-automatic handguns and the ammunition from Flores' vehicle, an armored 2006 Suburban with Baja California license plates, according to police. The Phoenix police report stated that Cortes, the federal officer, was seen paying a dealer $1,300 for two handguns. During the transaction, Flores translated for Cortes, the report stated. A statement by Baja California's Secretariat of Public Safety Wednesday said the two Baja California officers were only accompanying the federal agent, who made the purchases. The two agents were off duty, according to the statement.
“The only thing I purchased was a hot dog and a soft drink,” Flores said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “My record is unblemished.”
Flores added that he is cooperating with U.S. authorities.
“If it's necessary to return, I will gladly do so,” he said.
The men were targeted by a task force, made of up federal and local police, that was investigating illegal weapons purchases at the show. The task force had been set up to stem the supply of guns going into the hands of criminals, who often buy from private dealers and forgo background checks.
Flores and Cortes, the federal officer, were released after posting $2000 bond. Valle was released on his own recognizance.
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