Yeudi Estrada Carrero, Fitness Instructor, Dies After Arrest In Playa Del Carmen; 6 Cops Detained

A 28-year-old man, Yeudi Estrada Carrero, died Wednesday inside a police patrol truck in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. His death came after he was allegedly arrested for disorderly conduct. Estrada Carrero, who was a fitness instructor at a local Mexican gym, was born in New York, but lived in Cancún, México. His body had bruises, injuries on his hands and feet and was found handcuffed and barefoot in the back of the patrol. Mexican authorities say they have detained six police officers, Elbin Alejandro Sánchez, Limberth Flores Xicoténcatl, Margarito Sánchez Rangel, Ulises Beltrán Vera, José Daniel Soriano Rodríguez and Obed Balam Chan.

Quintana Roo state Assistant Attorney General Carlos Alvarez said Friday that Estrada Carrero died of asphyxia by strangulation after at least one of the officers pressed his foot against Estrada's neck. According to the detained officers, they responded to a call of help, and once they got there, Estrada Carrero faced them. In their statement, they revealed that they had to apprehend the victim because his behavior turned “violent because he was under the influence of drug and alcohol.” After being handcuffed, he was placed inside the patrol, where three officers stayed with him on the back, another was driving and the two others were each on a different patrol.

They added that as they were taking the now deceased into custody, he continued to fight and struggle with the police. One of them, identified as Obed Balam Chan, pressed his foot against his neck, and when they finally reached their destination, Estrada Carrero had no vital signs. The autopsy found that the victim had consumed cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine, but died of asphyxiation. His body was turned over to his father, a resident of Playa del Carmen, but originally from Colombia.