Pubdate: Mon, 22 Oct 2001
Source: El Paso Times (TX)
Copyright: 2001 El Paso Times
Contact:  http://www.elpasotimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829
Author: Diana Washington Valdez

FORMER JUAREZ POLICE COMMANDER SOUGHT IN CAPTAINS' DISAPPEARANCES

Chihuahua state authorities said they are seeking a former Juarez police 
commander, who may be in El Paso, for questioning in connection with the 
disappearance of two Juarez police captains.

Roberto Corral Barron, who recently resigned as police operations 
coordinator, supervised one of the missing police captains, Oscar 
Arrellano, who also has relatives in El Paso.

Police Capt. Marco Antonio Portillo, the other missing police officer, last 
was seen Sept. 14, and Arrellano was reporting missing Aug. 30. Both were 
in uniform and on their way to work before they turned up missing.

At that time, an internal affairs investigation was looking into 
allegations that several high-level police officials had connections to 
drug traffickers.

Relatives of the missing captains told authorities they were threatened for 
trying to find out what happened to Arrellano and Portillo.

City officials said former police Commissioner Jorge Ostos had them 
terminated and dropped from the city payroll for failing to report for work.

Corral and Ostos resigned last week, shortly after the Chihuahua state 
congress appointed a new interim mayor for Juarez.

Officials said Corral declined to be interviewed by state police 
voluntarily, and said they are considering ordering him to appear at state 
police offices.

Last week, Juarez city officials said 77 city police officers tested 
positive for drug use.

As in the past with other police who tested positive for drugs, they will 
be fired rather than reprimanded or otherwise punished.
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