Posted on 03/25/2008 1:10:19 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
ALTON - A former Mexican police officer with ties to a violent Texas prison gang was kidnapped this weekend from a home west of the city, Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies said Monday.
Investigators believe five men broke into the house near the intersection of 5 Mile Line and Brushline Road just before 10 p.m. Friday.
They abducted 37-year-old Jose Valencia Garcia and stabbed a 14-year-old boy several times in the head.
The injured teen - Andres Garcia - survived the attack and is expected to recover, sheriff's deputies said.
Authorities are unsure whether the two Garcias are related or were only living together.
Jose Valencia Garcia formerly worked as a judicial police officer in Mexico and previously served a two-year prison sentence in Texas for felony drunken driving.
He has prior convictions for possession of marijuana and is a suspected member of the prison gang Partidos Revolucionarios Mexicanos. The small gang formed in the late '80s and is believed to be made up primarily of Mexican-born inmates.
Sheriff's deputies said the kidnapping suspects fled the scene with Garcia in a tan or gold Mercury Marquis or Ford Crown Victoria with possible Texas license plates starting with "031." They did not release any physical description of the suspects other to say that they were Hispanic.
Authorities urge anyone with information on this case to contact the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office at (956) 668-8477.
Jeremy Roebuck covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
The next war is now at our doorsteps.
ping!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.