On the morning of Tuesday, October 6, the State Citizen Security Force (FESC) captured Jorge Said Salgado Mendoza—known as “El Serafín”—along with two other men in the Terrazas de San Bernardo neighborhood of Tijuana. Authorities identified him as the alleged perpetrator of the homicide of officer Óscar Arturo Arellano Moreno, which took place on July 25. According to press reports, “El Serafín” admitted to authorities that he belonged to the Sinaloa Cartel, specifically a cell within the “Los Mayos” faction.
The arrest stemmed from a citizen call alerting authorities to the presence of armed men in the area. Upon inspection, officers confirmed that Salgado Mendoza was the subject of three outstanding arrest warrants for aggravated homicide; he also had a criminal record involving weapons possession and property damage, according to reports by the outlet *Zeta Tijuana*.
A Citizen Tip Led Officers to “El Serafín”
A resident of the Terrazas de San Bernardo neighborhood reported the presence of three armed men on Amanecer Street to officers from the FESC and the Federal Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection. The force arrived at the location shortly after 11:00 a.m. and found the suspects in front of a house.
One of the men, who was carrying a long gun, attempted to take refuge inside the house, but police intercepted him before he could enter. This individual was “El Serafín.” Upon searching the group, authorities found a rifle, a double-drum magazine containing 40 rounds, an additional magazine with eight rounds, a brown tactical vest featuring a skull image, and a bag containing a white granular substance consistent with methamphetamine. The National Detention Registry record, uploaded this very Tuesday, described the detainee as 1.70 meters tall, of slender build and light-brown complexion, and dressed in a black T-shirt and black sweatpants. The arrest took place at 11:50 a.m.
