Police officer shoots and kills man in Puerto Rico
Update: April 15, 2008:11:35 a.m.
This is the final chapter in this Tragedy. Justice has been served!
109 años de cárcel
Javier Pagán fue sentenciado hoy a 99 años por el cargo de asesinato y 10 por violación a la Ley de Armas por la muerte de Miguel Cáceres.
Por Pedro Bosque
Humacao - El juez Rubén Torres Dávila le dio la oportunidad a Javier Pagán de que hablara, pero este no se expresó. Acto seguido el magistrado dictó la sentencia de 99 años por el cargo de asesinato y 10 años por violación a la Ley de Armas. Mas…
English translation:
109 years in jail
Javier Pagan was sentenced today to 99 years on charges of murder and 10 for violation of the Weapons Act for the death of Miguel Caceres.
By Pedro Bosque
Humacao - Ruben Torres Davila The judge gave Javier Pagan the opportunity to speak, but he did not express himself. Then the judge handed down the sentence of 99 years on charges of murder and 10 years for violation of the Arms Act.
Update: April 11, 2008: Javier Pagán Cruz was found Guilty of killing Miguel Cáceres. Go here for the entire article and the video:
“Arruinó la vida de Cáceres”
This is one of the most recent and brutal cases of police brutality here in Puerto Rico.
I was able to find it on Youtube and am presenting it here for the world to see. The case is under investigation by the F.B.I. and the police officers involved have been disarmed and suspended.
The police will not have a chance at hiding this incident as it was caught on video and broadcast on the news throughout the island and on Spanish TV stations in the states. The victim was identified as Miguel Cáceres Cruz. The incident arose when Miguel Cáceres Cruz was helping to direct traffic to a “quinceañero” when the three officers arrived and got into a dispute with him. According to witness reports Police officer Javier Pagán Cruz gun went off during the struggle which wounded the officer in the foot at which point he then proceeded to shoot Cruz several times while he lay on the ground and by standers screamed to stop.
(AP) — El Departamento de Justicia radicó hoy en la tarde un cargo de asesinato en primer grado contra el agente Javier Pagán Cruz, quien mató con cuatro tiros al civil Miguel A. Cáceres Cruz el sábado en Humacao. Mas…
Translation: The Justice Department filed charges today of 1st degree murder against Javier Pagán Cruz the policeman who killed Miguel A. Cáceras this past Saturday in Humacao, Puerto Rico. More…in Spanish
This was just announced on TV and the radio in Puerto Rico.
This is an update on the various news articles coming out in Puerto Rico.
The Executioner
Executed Man’s Funeral
Pedro Toledo habla
August 14, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I have seen police brutality, but that was murder execution style. I can not
believe that Puerto Rico has mentally disturbed officers, well let me rephrase
that, incompetent and disturbed. The government not only should they be
looking into the incident, but also looking into the mental health of their law enforcement department. The government is just taking in anyone that wants
to enlist and not really looking into these peoples background or mental health. Believe me if you have a “Padrino” in the force, your in. Unfortunately, that’s how it sometimes work.
My heart goes out to the victim’s family, its a shame that he was trying to make a happy event go smoother and was killed for it.
August 18, 2007 at 1:37 am
This is outrageous, it is obvious an execution. haven’t the PR police heard about tasers? I wish someone with media connections could forward the video to a major US newscaster such as msnbc or fox and bring some heat on puerto rico’s police force.
August 18, 2007 at 9:16 pm
i hope they hang this guy in a town plaza 4 everyone to see
August 19, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I lived in Puerto Rico and presently reside in NYC. I have lived through cases of police brutality via news and newspapers. However what I viewed in this video goes beyond words. The family and loved ones of Miguel Caceres Cruz should receive justice. Justice in this case should be served by placing this animal named Javier Pagan Cruz in the “Oso Blanco” with the general population. No form of protective custody should be allowed. For those who do not know what the Oso Blanco is….it is the harshest prison for men in Puerto Rico. Then and only then will justice be served. May you rest in peace Miguel and may Pagan Cruz rot in hell !!
August 20, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I wonder where Javier Pagan Cruz El Asesino Puerco got that black eye!
El Bohemio: Probably in the Bayamon jail where he spent a day or two before being bailed out.
August 26, 2007 at 3:12 am
After seeing this video and listening to the former Police Super. of PR, I wonder why this officer was still on the force
after being accused of domestic violence with his gun in the past. As a NY Law Enforcement Officer I know that if accused of any crime involving my firearm I would lose the ability to possess a firearm, be sent to physic services for evaluation and would have to sit before the fire arms review board before I could possess a gun again. In the meantime I would be on what we call the “rubber gun squad,”
(NO GUN). I know we have are own problems in NYC but I
have never seen anything like this video in my life. My heart
goes out to the victim and his family. May he rest in peace,
and may that sorry excuse for a Police Officer (Perp. in Blue)
get everything he has coming to him.
August 31, 2007 at 1:15 am
This video show how idiots are the Puerto Rico’s police, they can’t handle one unarmed man. I pray for justice, they need to stop police brutality.
September 27, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Just wait a few more years and this will be happening in America too.
November 19, 2007 at 10:52 pm
this is not the first time that this has happend ,its just the first time it was caught on video im surprised that who ever took the video did not get shot too. , the sistem in PR sucks..
You’re right on both points. For one he ( the Cop ) got caught like those in the Rodney King beating and for two, even though many had asked that he come forward as a witness he thought wisely and kept silent. If he would have identified himself ( though there are many who know who he is ) he would most certainly have been ACCIDENTALLY KILLED! Anyone who has lived on the island long enough knows this to be the truth.
December 4, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Dazed you are a freekin monster…You have no idea what you are talking about…the justice system in america is not perfect but it is the best in the world. And then there are people like you who use the tragic death of this subject for your misguided rant aginst the very people who risk their lives for YOUR well being. So sleep tight “Dazed and confused” and don’t worry the cops in this fine country will still be there to protect you!!!!
March 1, 2008 at 3:07 am
What the police officer did was fucked-up, but don’t blame the police force. My uncle is an officer in Puerto Rico and he tells me that almost everyday they are shot at by gang members, which take pride in killing officers. I used to live in Puerto Rico and I’ve seen the fucked up shit gangs do to people. By sample in the barrio I used to live in, a man was killed by a gang and they cut the guys body apart and threw his remains in front of his moms house to put fear in the people. ( What if the guy that was shot was a gang member or a gang leader?) Will you think different? Yeah, maybe the cops in Puerto Rico could be mentally disturbed, but they they see a lot of fucked up shit everyday. Oh, and I own property in Puerto Rico, but you couldn’t pay me enough to live in it. Just because of the gangs out in Puerto Rico are cold blooded killers. The officer in involved in the shotting is not related to me. The last name Pagan in Puerto Rico is just like last name Smith in this country.
March 7, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I live in Puerto Rico, and can’t believe all the cases of police brutatlity that we have. I am doing a reaserch paper on Police brutality in Puerto Rico, and if anyone knows any extra information about other cases of police brutality, plese e-mail them to the following adress:
juanitoelito@hotmail.com
Regards,
Juan
April 12, 2008 at 4:37 pm
if you look close enough the man did have a gun and put the guy in general population as someone who knows this mans family background hell be protected any how although the law enforcement there dose need to change most have crimnal backgrounds and are involvend of have been envolved in gang activity
April 18, 2008 at 12:30 am
[...] April 15, 2008:11:35 a.m. Puerto Rico: Javier Pagan was sentenced today to 99 years on charges of murder and 10 for violation of the Weapons Act for the death of Miguel Caceres. By Pedro Bosque Humacao - Ruben Torres Davila The judge gave Javier Pagan the opportunity to speak, but he did not express himself. Then the judge handed down the sentence of 99 years on charges of murder and 10 years for violation of the Arms Act. You can read more and see the video that sealed his fate here. [...]
May 1, 2008 at 9:44 am
What I saw in the video is unimaginable. The Police in Puerto Rico is corrupt and beyond repair. I hope that GOD will judge this man accordingly; but I pray that I would never do something like that. And for the family of Miguel Caceres may GOD bless them.
May 4, 2008 at 12:06 am
This is just one incident of what the Puerto Rican people have been dealing with since the United States took over the island on 1898. The individuals who wanted independence for Puerto rico have also been persecuted since the early 1900’s. They were arrested for desiring freedom for Puerto Rico from the United States oppression. Anyone who expressed their rights (freedom of speech, rght to assemble) was arrested and even shot. So the Puerto Rican police in conjunction with the United Statian authorities have violated the rights of the Puerto Ricans. The puerto Rican flag which was created in 1895 prohibited and not allowed to be displayed until 1952. anyone who did so before 1952 was arrested.