The neighbors of Santa Teresita de Turrialba got tired of a criminal who was committing violent assaults every three days. At only 19 years old, a man surnamed Chávez was the leader of a criminal group that stole from people in the morning.
The subject and his cronies were armed, they knocked down doors and destroyed the windows of those affected. But on July 2nd this year they killed a 23-year-old merchant and people’s patience. A day later the neighbors united and set fire to the house where Chávez lived. There, they recovered stolen belongings and forced him to move to Siquirres.
The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) arrested Chávez, suspected of having committed 20 violent assaults, but at the moment there are only three reported incidents.
Wálter Espinoza, director of the OIJ, explained that the detainee even requested protection from the judicial police for the attacks he received from the neighbors.
Neighbors in the area told the press that he rented a house, but even the owner of the house gave them permission to burn it because it was the only way to expel the man from that site.
Chávez had no criminal record and lived with a 16-year-old girl. During the raids on Wednesday, firearm and cell phones were confiscated from him.
The OIJ indicated that the gang is composed of four subjects who have already been identified. At the moment there is only one detainee.