Sentry Shakdown 8/25 12:45 am

[freebsd-unix.sg]

El Fracaso--where this police mugging started--is located on Articulo 123 between Revolucion and Constitution. Articulo 123 together with Revolucion between La Tropa and Purple Rain are areas I advise mongers to avoid when possible. Mongers are more likely to be mugged, etc. in these areas than anywhere else mongers visit in Tijuana.

I find the post believable. So does Fireballs; that surprises me. Usually Fireballs finds a way to “discard” posts about the dangers of Articulo 123.

 

[Lulu]

Burt your quoting me on the wrong post. I was referring to the idiot Killit posted about coming to a prostitution site and asking if he should even show the TJ cops his license if requested by the cop to do so.

The post below by Killit again, is very believable it has the right tone, the right emotion, things seem to fit together in the story, nothing was too outrageous on the mongers part, and he did what 95% of what mongers would do in his situation he paid them a bribe. He did the right thing. Why waste another hour being driving around in hopes they give up?

 

[feax2002]

Burt2020 You forget to mention that TJ Police like to keep the Bribes under wraps. The last thing they want others to know is that they are taking bribes. I would boldly mention as loud as I can "HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT FROM ME?????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" the minute it comes appearant that the cop in taking a bribe and it is no longer discret, they usually back down and try to leave the area. Nothing is more embarassing than to be caught taking a bribe

 

[SmiLeY!!! <33]

The monger didn’t “politely, but firmly” stand up to the cops. The monger “ran away” from the cops.

The monger showed fear and disrespect. Both are things I advise against when dealing with cops in TJ.

Also, I've never said don't show the cops your ID. In fact I posted on the other board about an incident where I showed the cops my ID, but refused to pay a bribe. (I also advise people to carry both a Ca DL and a Ca ID and show the cops the Ca ID. That way they can "walk away" from the Ca ID if necessary.)

More importantly, my posts were about what to do when the cops try to take your money by intimidation—not force. Obviously you need different "tactics" when you’re the victim of a forcible mugging.

 

[Chyeah(:]

Here's part 2 of the tjcopsukers:
Well to finish of my little ride around with the tj.copsucker's......When the 3rd cop entered the van he threw a pair of handcuff's to the copsucker that has been talking to me...I knew that was a scare tactic but I was still nervous...The copsucker asked me how much money I had,I told him he knew cause he went through my wallet...I told him I could pay the fine if I didn't go to jail...He said OK...We both agreed on 40 dollars cuz I told him I needed money to travel to Mexico city...Then they drove me north of the arch on revolution down a alley...I noticed there was three other TJ.copsucker vehicles in the alley extorting others...The copsucker got out of the van and told me to give the money to the copsucker who was driving...Before I gave him the money I asked "How do I know this wont happen to me again" He said "If it happeneds again tell the other copsucker's you already was with the men in black"...He told me to turn left on revolution go one block turn right then I would be near El Fracaso...I walk passed both of the other 2 TJ.copsucker's vehicles and was on my way...I have been to TJ.many times in the past 10 year's so I guess I have been lucky this is the first time getting robbed by TJ.finest...I thought about demanding to see the judge but,I didn't want to ride around allnight and possibly taken out of the area and being dumped off..I think the TJ. copsucker's are the reason the zone is slowing down....I will stick to Mexicali..

 

[laineyette]

First of all two mistakes. If you are going to TJ on a three day weekend and you have a hotel room, you should not carry your passport with you when you are walking about the town. Too many pocket pickers and the USA pas port carries a hefty price for a Pollo (illegal alien) trying to get across the border. Second you had all your money in one place. When I go and stay a weekend I leave a large portion of my money in a suit case in my hotel room. I never carry more than two hunderd peso in my wallet. If I need more to get the chicas I usually carry money in the bottom of my shoe. The cops saw your lump of money in you wallet and you became a shake down magnet.

I speak fluent spanish. I refuse to speak english even if they speak english to me. Spainish is often a gift. Not only doe's it make you aware of what is going on around you, but most mexicans when you speak spainish have history of going straight with you because the will have the assumption that you know better. I always tell people to act like you know what you are doing at all time when you are down there. If an area doe't not feel right in your gut stay out of that area. If a situation does'nt feel right its not right. use common sense and you can stay clear of the police

 

[jusme]

TJ finest strikes again from other site part 1:
Posted by mefixalane on September 10, 2007 - 18:00 pm

Arrived in TJ.Fri the 7th, checked into my room for a 3 day stay before I go to Mexico City on Mon the 10th...Stopped in El fracaso, had a beer "dead"...stopped in La Gloria,had a beer "dead"...I decided to stop and have some chinese food and then go back to my room and get some rest before my night of fun.While I was walking close to El Fracaso I heard "hey wetto come here".I kept walking and before I knew it a Tijuana copsucker hand his hand on my shoulder and ask me "why didn't you come when I called you"..I told the copsucker I didn't know that he was calling me..He walked me to the middle of the street and ask "do you have drugs?"
I said no ..He went through my wallet,noticed that I had a little money,kept my wallet and passport..He said "lets go"...I said for what...He said"for resisting"...I told him that I never heard him..He put me in the back of the van and away we went..
There was already one person in the van and the copsucker put me next to him...We rode around for awhile and I knew sooner or later he was gonna want money..He said that I was going to see the judge and I would spend 20 hrs in jail..I told him I had to get to Mexico city cause then I was of to Oaxaca to help a poor family there but,the mother was gonna meet me in Mexico city and she only had enough money to get there and if I didn't show up she would be 8 hrs from her home with no money to return..This was true except I really wasn't going to Mexico until monday...
We kept driving around..I asked the guy next to me in english where are we going?,he never responded..Then I asked him adonde vamos,he said he didn't know..the copsucker told him to shut up..I told the copsucker who spoke very good english that I wanted my passport back and that it is the property of the US.goverment,he said nothing...

Whe drove around some more,he said do you want to see the judge or pay the fine?...I knew what he wanted so I said nothing...The copsucker asked me why Im being so quiet..I told him that I was trying to figure out how I was going to let the girl who was suppose to meet me in mexico city that I wasn't going to show cause I was going to jail...He looked at my passport and called me by my first name and asked again,do you want to pay the fine?..I asked how do I pay the fine..Im surprised how calm I was cause thing's happened so fast before I was put in the van then thing's really slowed down in the van,I just tried not to show to much emotion in front of the TJ.copsucker..We finally stopped and another TJ.copsucker got in the van..We took of again..The T

part2 he said will be to day.

Somebody said it happen to them hear:

posted by Roberto on September 10, 2007 - 20:05 pm

I had the same damn treatment a couple of years back. Walking down the street minding my own business, perfectly innocent. I got driven all over town at 2:00am in the back of a cop car. I continued to insist I'd be perfectly happy to see the judge. Drive around some more.... well the judge wont be here until tomorrow....so you will have to spend the night in jail....and it will probably only be a small fine.... I said that's fine, then I suppose I will have to wait until tomorrow to see the judge but that is what I would like to do and if I have to go to jail that is unfortunate but apparently unavoidable since I am innocent. Finally they dropped me off in some bumbfuck nowhere ghetto I have no idea where it was. Handed me back my ID, asked me if I agreed he had returned my ID. I said yes you have, and away they drove. Never gave them a cent or a peso.
OTOH a couple of other times I got totally busted red handed and was actually pretty happy to empty my pockets of all the money I had (not much) to resolve the problem ;-)

 

[muhammad q]

Charger21...the station by alley is only a sub-station. The main station is at 8th and Constitution. That's where you go to file a theft report. (Go to the last door on Constitucion headed towards 9th.)

You'll also find the office of the municipal judge there. (On 8th, first door on the left as you go up the stairs.) Things are informal and he could probably give you tips on what to do. He isn't overly found of corrupt cops.

 

[Shard]

When they get stupid with me, I generally laugh and ask if it is their first day in Tijuana. My way of telling them, I am not going to be intimidated or fall for the same stupid shit the other gringos fall for. I use the same line on asshole taxi drivers...

 

[b_witch]

Back talking A TJ cop especially when ther is an language problem between you and them will only worsen the situation. The best bet it to cooperate to your fullest, try to keep the sitauation positive, the worse thing that will happen you might have to tip him twenty dollars for his patience. ON the other hand when business is all done remember to Get the cops name and if he took a bribe from him you go to the police office (on the street before Adelitas across from discount alley) and report him.

 

[? Mrs. D?]

I have never seen a gringo struck....lots of locals,
one time I saw a guy being escorted in handcuffs by two officers and a third(an older officer) punched the guy right in the nose...the officers pulled him back.

I understand the guy had assaulted the officer a few blocks away.

I have been told by locals that the officers are afraid to strike Americans. Probably true, as if big noise was made by the press in the US, then the department would probably have to fire the officer or take some type of disciplinary action.

I've always politely offered my ID...I only get rude with them when they are out of line.

 

[Yvonne K]

Killit wrote:

See that's the danger of so of these tough guy posts, where you are suppose to stand up to the TJ cops and not even hand him your driver license. It's also the reason why I like to compare TJ cops to US cops and ask would you do the same thing to a cop in the US if he pulled you over and asked for your ID?

Of course you wouldn't do that in the US as for one thing you could find you ass in prison for an over night stay and other charges. So why would someone deny a TJ cops simple request to look at your drivers license, as they at that point haven't even tried to shake you down yet?

In my opinion the TJ cops are nicer then the US cops as most of them don't have that cop mentality you know that self-righteous roboCop attitude, as they seem like regular dudes or regular crooks. But others don't share my opinion and think TJ cops are thugs who have been known to administer street justice to unruly gringos and locals alike. I myself haven't heard any personal cases of gringos getting their ass kicked by the police, but I'm sure it has happened. And if any monger took these tough guy posts seriously and refused to show the TJ cop is ID.....Well lets just say I won't feel sorry for him if he ends up in jail or gets an ass kicked for simply denying a request to see a drivers license. If you want to argue with a TJ cop at least wait till he does something wrong like asking for a bribe.

 

[Mario S]

I’ve heard of this, but don’t know anybody who has encountered it. So I doubt it happens often in TJ.

In California you can have both a DL and ID card. For a variety of reasons I carry both and my passport. If I was forced to give a cop some ID I’d give him my Ca ID card—and “walk away” if from it necessary.

 

[Bhuwisit]

If the cops argue that the fellow is intoxicated while in the street, he can be fined for it.
I think that's what he ment, go to the police station to pay for it, although it is not clear but I think he was fined.
What they do to force you to pay the fine, or make you give them a bribe, is to take your ID from you.
It is the norm in Mexico for police or a transit authority officer to retain an oficial ID (for us it is our national electoral ID card)... that's to make you pay or "pay".

 

[sticks]

here's a shake down that somebody got out of : posted from other site.
Knowing from all the postings, the only problems I was going to have in TJ, were with cops. Just wanting to know from your experiences, when TJ cops ask for your ID during one of their "random" drug searches, is it a good idea to give it to them, or to argue with them about it?
I did the latter this time, and it seemed to work. I've heard stories of cops taking your ID and forcing you go to the police station to pay to get it back.

part2:
Thanks for the posts. What happened was some cops just stopped right in front of us as we were walking on the sidewalk of Ninos Heroes. I shouldn't have argued the point, you guys are right, but I felt I "had to be heard" at the time. I feel a little wiser about such things at least.

I never heard of cops taking ID's to the police station is this new?

 

[Nevaskard]

Those poor Mexican bums laying on the side walk weren't trying to start fist fights in the street. They weren't making asses of themselves and doing stuff to other people. This is not the race card this is the fact. Those gringo would not act like they do in Tiajuana in the United State, why should they make total fools of themseves in Tiajuana?

 

[Emmyjak13]

I Lived in Tiajuana for a little bit over fifteen Years. Out of all the fifteen years I never had any run ins with the cops. The only thing you could call a run in was when I went to go visit my brother in Laws house and I was in an area that didn't quite look like an area an Americn tourist belongs in. They ask me what I was doing. I told them than they moved on. If we had this dedication from the American counter part we would'nt have the crime wave we have now in the United States.
I use to run into a lot of American tourist on the way to work everyday. 1 out of every ten was intoxicated, they were being disresectful towards the the locals, they were doing things like trying to vandelise things, or urinating in public, these are the americans that the Mexican police usually pick on. They are the ones who return state side and tell storie like they were minding their own business and they ran into problems with the TJPD. They forget to tell you that they were acting stupid and asked to be shaked down by the police.
Again I can not tell you how important it is to keep a low profile while you are in Tiajuana. Watch your alcohol consumption. And give the locals the same respect you would want for yourself. Use common sense, if a situation his hitting you in the gut and it don't feel right stay away from that situation.

 

[stephen518]

Ok Guys cool it, back down ! Sometimes its is interesting to have a fight, we will leave the personal stuff out. Time out. Forget this happened. We need you to continue posting.....on other topics....

 

[ZenYouDoIt]

Let me point out that I studied grade school and jr. high in an American School.
I still know by heart the Pledge of Allegiance.
I know and can sing the Star Sprangled Banner (and let me tell you in my times, that if anyone sung "Oh Jose can you see" they were slapped)

And Iam Mexican... how about you... are you up to par with being far away from home like me when being a kid?

About your question, if the working girls want tourists to come to TJ, let me answer they don't want tourists, they want customers with money, whether it be Mexicans or Americans, and sorry to tell you, but Mexicans right now are more business to them than guys from the States.

 

[WATCHA]

Let me correct you: The 2 girls missing in Nuevo Laredo are Mexicans.

I just dont understand that generic lable you give us: "Latinos" when you are reffering specificly to Mexicans.
What is it? you get a rash if you meniton our nationality?

Let me see violence... oh! did you know a crazy idiot killed more than 33 at a a Virignia University in the span of a couple of hours?

Let me see, biased advice: More biased than yours as you see the whole of Mexico just by visiting TJ for a couple of days?

Worse part is that I can be more of a judge of the American society than you can of the Mexican, which of course, I will not be.