UNSAFETY. –
Fabricio Colón Pico, alias “El Salvaje” fled from the Riobamba prison along with 38 other inmates, 15 of which have already been recaptured by the National Police. Furthermore, the Government of Ecuador put said leader of a criminal gang in the Reward Plan and the information given will be kept strictly confidential.
The members of the Public Force went to the Riobamba prison to regain control.
But how did this escape of one of the most dangerous alleged criminals in the country happen?
Well, it all started with the riot that occurred in the early hours of Monday, January 8, 2024 in the Riobamba prison, where the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PPL) took 7 prison guides hostage.
For this reason, the different institutions such as the National Police, the Riobamba Fire Department, soldiers from the Armored Cavalry Brigade No. 11 “Galápagos” and other elements of the law enforcement institution, arrived at the local jail. since they wanted to regain control of the site; However, they were greeted with stones and even explosive devices that were thrown from inside the detention center.
The nervousness and anguish of the residents, merchants and even the relatives of the prison guides and the PPL was noticeable, since they stayed until dawn to find out the status of their loved ones.
The Riobamba Firefighters went to the prison center, as there was a fire, but then they left.
The hours passed, and after 11:00 p.m. on the cold night of Monday, January 8, 2024, an alert was given about the explosion of a vehicle, therefore, the fire fighters and tactical personnel of the National Police mobilized to Mexico Street. between Pichincha and García Moreno, near the Miguel Ángel León Educational Unit, where it was found that the front part of a car was destroyed, apparently due to the detonation of an explosive device.
Firefighters left the scene in safe conditions, while a Criminalistics team gathered information.
While the security entities were taking procedures in said emergency, the escape of several PPL was reported in the Riobamba prison and for that reason the search and capture device for the inmates was activated.
Later, around 00:00 on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, a prison guide left the place, handcuffed and carrying a white flag. At approximately 00:40, the journalists who were covering the conflict came with police protection. To the main door of the Riobamba prison, the PPL requested that the press be in the area so they could free the hostages.
One by one the guides left, who remained held by the PPL for more than 18 hours. During the early hours of yesterday, police members and even the Civil Traffic Agents of Riobamba managed to recapture 15 inmates who fled and it was not until the early hours of the morning that it was confirmed that Fabricio Colón Pico, alias “El Salvaje” escaped from the jail.
An explosive would have been detonated in the front of a vehicle, which was parked in the Eastern sector of Riobamba.
Rodrigo Cáceres, governor of the Province of Chimborazo, attended the emergency (explosive), which occurred in the eastern sector of Riobamba, where he mentioned that the security device was activated and asked citizens to remain calm and obtain information through the channels. officials to avoid bad information. “We do not know how the PPL fled, but we are coordinating the work to recapture them,” said the first authority.
John Vinueza, mayor of Riobamba, after the meeting that was held at ECU-911 Riobamba, commented that the judicial and national authorities have been asked not to transfer this type of highly dangerous criminals to the prison of the city, given that it is a minimum security detention center, he also stressed that within his powers he will enhance security so that services such as water and electricity are not affected by the criminal acts that have shocked the country.
The prison guides were released and received by their colleagues.
Likewise, the prefect of Chimborazo, Hermel Tayupanda, explained that the work in the areas and roads will be coordinated jointly and that they will not work alone, so that nothing happens, there will be dialogue with the leaders of the parishes and communities to articulate issues of security, and that if they have to apply Indigenous Justice, they should do so within their powers and territories.
In a tour that was taken through the streets of Riobamba, it was observed that several commercial establishments, taxi drivers and citizens decided to take shelter as a family and wait for the commotion generated by the criminals to end.