Posted on 11/15/2007 10:56:28 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
Police arrested a City of Laredo bridge traffic employee Wednesday who was recently suspended for coercing paisanos to pay him before proceeding through the Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge.Arturo Jesus Leyva, 23, was arrested on five counts of official oppression, a Class-A misdemeanor, and five counts of theft, a Class-B misdemeanor.
A Class A offense is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Class B misdemeanors are punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Police questioned Leyva for several hours and he voluntarily submitted a written admission of his actions. His bond was set at $5,000 for each count by Justice of the Peace Oscar Martinez.
Joe E. Baeza, Laredo Police Department spokesman, said that during about a year and a half of Leyva's two years as a bridge traffic controller, he waited until near closing time at the bridge to take advantage of paisanos trying to get across that night, typically charging them about $60.
"He would basically set up a scheme close to the tail end of his shift," Baeza said. "He would tell them ‘the bridge is closed but I'll let you through for whatever amount of money.' "The majority of people, they're on long hauls … so they basically do what he'd ask."
But some individuals began coming forward, Baeza said, and were willing to press charges. Three families made complaints in person while two others communicated with Laredo police by phone.
City Manager Carlos Villarreal said the city is not shy about publicizing wrongdoing on the part of its city employees to ensure illegal activity is eliminated.
"If we get a complaint, we're going to follow it up," Villarreal said. "If we wouldn't announce this, some of these people would still be working for the City of Laredo and that's what we're trying to eliminate."
Villarreal added that he hopes there are not other similar cases of employees forcing bridge crossers to pay a bribe, "but I never fail to be surprised."
To prevent future incidents of paisanos being forced to pay more than the bridge toll, Villarreal plans to post signs in English and Spanish with contact numbers for those crossing the bridge to call if they are asked to pay more than the toll that should be taken by a toll collector.
(Ashley Richards may be reached at 728-2538 or by e-mail at ashley@lmtonline.com)
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