Thread: Five Americans accused of bounty hunting in Mexico

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/ ... index.html

SIERRA VISTA, Arizona (AP) -- Mexican authorities have arrested five U.S. citizens and accused them of trying to kidnap two men in Mexico.

Roberto Bejarano, chief of the Sonora state police investigative unit in Naco, Mexico, said Raul Arellanes Valdez, 31; Lewis Lee Harold, 48; Ricardo Polanco, 49; and Polanco's two sons captured two Mexican citizens as they were walking down a street Wednesday morning.

A judge is expected to decide this week whether there is enough evidence to charge them with the crime of unlawful deprivation of freedom, Bejarano said.

Bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, which has previously pursued criminal charges against TV reality star Duane "Dog" Chapman.

Chapman, who stars in the A&E television show "Dog the Bounty Hunter," was arrested in September by U.S. authorities on a Mexican warrant following his capture of fugitive convicted rapist and Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Luster in that country.

In this incident, Bejarano said the suspects loaded the two men into a pickup at gunpoint, tied their feet together and told them they were U.S. officials. But the two men struggled with their captors and were able to jump from the truck just before it crossed into the United States, the Sierra Vista Herald reported Thursday.

A short time later, Bejarano said, the five alleged bounty hunters returned to Naco, Mexico, wearing new sets of clothing but driving the same pickup.

Police spotted the vehicle and arrested the men.

Hey come on now mexican police, you're not playing fair. These American citizens are just there do a job that YOUR CORRUPT POLICE FORCE WON'T DO so leave them the hell alone!

Call the MCLU, they'll fight for American rights (yeah right)

Our criminals run to Mexico and theirs come here. We should make them a deal. They can have all theirs back for ours. that should be about 1 million Mexicans for 5 Americans.

Originally Posted by steelerbabe

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/05/03/bounty.hunters.ap/index.html

SIERRA VISTA, Arizona (AP) -- Mexican authorities have arrested five U.S. citizens and accused them of trying to kidnap two men in Mexico.

Roberto Bejarano, chief of the Sonora state police investigative unit in Naco, Mexico, said Raul Arellanes Valdez, 31; Lewis Lee Harold, 48; Ricardo Polanco, 49; and Polanco's two sons captured two Mexican citizens as they were walking down a street Wednesday morning.

A judge is expected to decide this week whether there is enough evidence to charge them with the crime of unlawful deprivation of freedom, Bejarano said.

Bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, which has previously pursued criminal charges against TV reality star Duane "Dog" Chapman.

Chapman, who stars in the A&E television show "Dog the Bounty Hunter," was arrested in September by U.S. authorities on a Mexican warrant following his capture of fugitive convicted rapist and Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Luster in that country.

In this incident, Bejarano said the suspects loaded the two men into a pickup at gunpoint, tied their feet together and told them they were U.S. officials. But the two men struggled with their captors and were able to jump from the truck just before it crossed into the United States, the Sierra Vista Herald reported Thursday.

A short time later, Bejarano said, the five alleged bounty hunters returned to Naco, Mexico, wearing new sets of clothing but driving the same pickup.

Police spotted the vehicle and arrested the men.

Bounty hunting may be illegal in Mexico, but it is a fundamental right for bondholders under international mercantile law.