By Marisela Ortega Lozano
El Paso Times
EL PASO, Texas — Juárez police officers arrested two of their own Saturday, after the pair allegedly robbed a convenience store at gun point, a police spokesperson said.
The two men are also suspects in at least five armed robberies carried out against the same store, he said.
According to Juárez police, both officers, armed with a 9mm gun, stormed into an Extra convenience store at Sorgo and Papaya streets, Granjero neighborhood.
The alleged robbers got away with an undisclosed amount of cash but were captured hours later, according to the spokesman.
The officers were identified as Jairo Antonio Guereca Bautista, 25, and Elezer Rodrcguez Garcca, 27.
Thanks to a video camera installed at the convenience store, the police were able to identify and arrest the suspects.
Both alleged robbers were turned in to Chihuahua state prosecutors on charges of armed robbery, the official said.
“Juárez Department of Public Safety is committed to protect the Jucrez community and to get rid of bad officers who taint Juárez police honesty, loyalty and image,” Juárez officials said in a statement.
Last April, two Juárez police officers were arrested after they allegedly tried to rob an ATM machine, with the aid of three other men, inside a convenience store.
Also in April, a Juárez police officer was found guilty of aggravated robbery after breaking into a Del Rco convenience store.
Vicente Ambriz Villalobos, aka “Big Show,” was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
In September 2010, Ambriz threatened the cashier with a gun and demanded cash. No one was hurt during the incident.
Copyright 2011 El Paso Times