BajaNomad - 2 Americans killed in La Mesa prison

2 Americans killed in La Mesa prison

Bajajack - 9-20-2008 at 08:20 AM

Associated press

TIJUANA - Two American inmates are among some two dozen people killed in this week's rioting at Baja California's main prison, the U.S. Embassy said Friday.

Embassy spokeswoman Janice Weiner said at least two other Americans were injured in the violence at the La Mesa State Penitentiary in Tijuana, across from San Diego. She declined to give further details until family members have been notified.

Weiner added that consular officials are visiting the more than 200 Americans held at the lockup to make sure they are being cared for.

Prisoners at the crowded compound have rioted twice in the past week. They say they are not being given food and water, but officials blame troublemakers for the violence.

The prison's warden and two other top officials have been suspended pending an investigation of alleged abuse, including allegations that guards killed a 19-year-old inmate.

Those allegations sparked the first riot on Sunday, which killed four inmates. At least 17 more died in a second uprising on Wednesday, and human rights officials believe the death toll could rise.

Antonia Brenner, a U.S. nun who works and lives in the prison, said a prison official told her a total of 25 people were killed in the riots. But she said Friday that conditions were better.

"It's calming down. The terror was on Wednesday," she said. "Things are pretty well cleaned up." :no:

Woooosh - 9-20-2008 at 08:39 AM

If the USA held Mexican prisoners in jail under those conditions there would be hell to pay. There would be Mexicans prtoesting and waving flags. Where is the ourtrage from the USA about how these Americasn are being treated?

I read a very sad story about one female american inmate there. She is in the TJ jail because she lost her health insurance and used her US doctors prescription to purchase the drugs she needed at a farmacia in TJ. Her mother said she is down to 86 pounds and was using her only money to purchase bottled water so she wouldn't get dissentary.

Kell-Baja - 9-20-2008 at 10:59 AM

Just awful!!

woody with a view - 9-20-2008 at 11:17 AM

Quote:

Where is the ourtrage from the USA about how these Americasn are being treated?

i'm outraged that an american was so stupid as to get thrown in prison in mexico.... i understand that a mexican prison is worse than a nightmare, but tough it out. after all, one of the americans who was killed was in his 11th year in la mesa for KIDNAPPING. stop acting like these people are saints.

there are hard luck stories everywhere you care to look.

DENNIS - 9-20-2008 at 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
Where is the ourtrage from the USA about how these Americasn are being treated?

Most everybody in there is being treated like that and most of them don't deserve outrage. They're garbage. If you think the US government is going to voice an opinion, don't hold your breath. Nobody would listen to them anyway.
Hey..Here's something we've never heard before, "Boycot Mexico."

Gadget - 9-20-2008 at 12:33 PM

Pink boxer shorts, no AC and a baloney on white bread sandwich and water, every day.
No weight lifting so you can become a more powerful and effective criminal when you get out.
Cause voilence inside of any kind and you get shot dead.
Seems like these may all be concepts that should be embraced to reduce our prison populations.
Or we can keep spending 50k a year, or whatever the figure is now per inmate, to keep them in the tax payer subsidized country clubs they are enjoying now.
I'd guess life is better inside for many of the inmates here in the states, probably not the case in Mexico.
That's a crime.

Sorry, post slanted to this side of the border.
Is indeed sad to here of US citizens in jail down there. Pay for what you reap though.

[Edited on 9-20-2008 by Gadget]

DENNIS - 9-20-2008 at 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gadget
Cause voilence inside of any kind and you get shot dead.

The prisoners can handle that detail.

bajamigo - 9-20-2008 at 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
If the USA held Mexican prisoners in jail under those conditions there would be hell to pay. There would be Mexicans prtoesting and waving flags. Where is the ourtrage from the USA about how these Americasn are being treated?

I read a very sad story about one female american inmate there. She is in the TJ jail because she lost her health insurance and used her US doctors prescription to purchase the drugs she needed at a farmacia in TJ. Her mother said she is down to 86 pounds and was using her only money to purchase bottled water so she wouldn't get dissentary.

A congressman from the San Diego area published this excerpt a couple of years ago:

"U.S. Citizen Freed from Prison in Mexico
Recently, I announced the release of Dawn Marie Wilson, who has been imprisoned in Mexico for the last 18 months.

Dawn Marie Wilson, an American citizen, was convicted in a Mexican court of carrying medication without a prescription-- and sentenced to five years in jail! Ms. Wilson had been purchasing anti-seizure medication for many years - and had apparently been a victim of extortion. After learning of Ms. Wilson’s unjust imprisonment, I immediately took action to arrange for her transfer back to the United States.

Since the signing of a 1977 treaty with Mexico, an average of 90 incarcerated Americans are transferred back annually, and the U.S. Parole Commission then determines the length of their remaining sentence to be served in the U.S.

In Ms. Wilson’s case, it was determined that she had served her time. I am proud to have helped Ms. Wilson get out of prison. Finally, she is free to go home and reclaim her life."

tjBill - 9-21-2008 at 01:44 AM

If you're interested what's it like in a Mexican jail, you can read, "Tales from the Tijuana Jail" by Sam Warren. He spent two and a half years there.

http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Tijuana-Jails-Sam-Warren/dp/0945...

No Interest !

MrBillM - 9-21-2008 at 11:20 AM

Other than to hope it remains a horrific place to be as prison should be.

F-em all.

tjBill - 9-21-2008 at 11:49 AM

Quote:

F-em all.

Sam Warren, the author of "Tales from Tijuana Jail," was innocent and it took him 2 1/2 years to get the charges dropped.

:no:

Barry A. - 9-21-2008 at 12:47 PM

-----I spent several days in the TJ jail back in the early '60's for something I did not do (but they had good reason to think I did)--------It was no picnic, but they treated me fairly, and it really was not that bad physically---emotionally it was scary, but other than that not bad at all. I will say that I was pretty bloody and beat up from the arrest, and no medical attention was offered (tho I really did not need any other than a few stitches in my head, which I never got until back in the States).

I certainly learned my lesson to watch out what I was doing while in Mexico, and not to mess with the law.

Of course that was a long time ago, but you old-timers can remember all the "bad press" about the Mexican jails back then, and it simply was largely not so---at least in my experience.

barry

Cypress - 9-21-2008 at 12:55 PM

"Bad Press" about jail? :lol:

Barry A. - 9-21-2008 at 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress
"Bad Press" about jail? :lol:

Yep-----bad press (propaganda???). It was commonly thought that they were horrible, dirty, depraved, and to be avoided at the risk of death--------simply not so (at least everything but the "avoided"). :lol:

Propaganda is sooooooo misleading, most of the time. Still, I don't recommend trying to find out for yourself.

Barry

DENNIS - 9-21-2008 at 01:22 PM

The few I've been in for short stays, I wouldn't recommend to anybody. As far as treatment toward you, I think you reap what you sow. Act like an a-hole and you will surely be treated like one.

Barry A. - 9-21-2008 at 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
The few I've been in for short stays, I wouldn't recommend to anybody. As far as treatment toward you, I think you reap what you sow. Act like an a-hole and you will surely be treated like one.

Amen, Dennis!!! :yes:

woody with a view - 9-21-2008 at 01:49 PM

you're right.....

Quote:

especially those of you who follow a creed of judgment belonging to a higher power....

that's funny!

CaboRon - 9-21-2008 at 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.

Quote:

Amen, Dennis!!! :yes:

Unfortunately the majority of Americans in that jail are there because people were trying to purchase cheaper medications in TJ without knowing every detail of the law.

And they were turned in by the pharmicists after the purchase .... despicable ....(the pharmists get their product back too.)

A truly tragic situation for most of them....

CAboRon

[Edited on 9-21-2008 by CaboRon]

woody with a view - 9-21-2008 at 02:48 PM

Ron

how can you possibly know that is fact?

BajaGringo - 9-21-2008 at 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.

Quote:

Amen, Dennis!!! :yes:

Not saying this hasn't ever happened but it is the first time I have heard that version of the story. Do you have any sources on that? Would love to read about it...

Shark18 - 9-21-2008 at 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
And they were turned in by the pharmicists after the purchase .... despicable ....(the pharmists get their product back too.)

A truly tragic situation for most of them....

CAboRon

That does not make even one lick of sense, since selling drugs without a prescription is just as illegal as buying drugs without a prescription. It also make it very hard to build up a repeat client base.

DENNIS - 9-21-2008 at 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shark18

That does not make even one lick of sense, since selling drugs without a prescription is just as illegal as buying drugs without a prescription. It also make it very hard to build up a repeat client base.

It's Mexico. Something you know nothing about. Drug stores in Mexico sell items without prescription which require such in the states.
You should do your long range homework before you make statements like this. They just tend to show your stupidity but, your repeat client base statement shows your street sense. Keep up the good work for a better world.

Skip_Mac - 9-21-2008 at 06:04 PM

Thank You Cabo Ron for a rational and reasonable comment after Dennis and Barry A's obnoxious hate screeds. Reasonable people build a society, hate filled people tear it down.

The scam is real simple- and well reported

thebajarunner - 9-21-2008 at 06:27 PM

American goes into a farmacia- buys a load of prescription drugs, pays cash.

Clerk calls his favorite cop, cop puts the "bite" on the buyer, takes all the cash on hand, and the drugs.

Payoff for the clerk/farmacia--- get all the drogas back to resell to the next customer/victim.

Payoff to the cop---- that one is pretty obvious.

Payoff to the customer----- pay enough to the cop, you get to go home broke,
don't have enough cash to make him happy-
free lodging at the cross-bar hotel.

Catholic Nun Describes Life Inside Tijuana Prison

Shark18 - 9-22-2008 at 10:37 AM

Watch the video, this woman is amazing. She is 82.

http://www.cbs8.com/stories/story.141180.html#

Gadget - 9-23-2008 at 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody in ob
you're right.....

Quote:

especially those of you who follow a creed of judgment belonging to a higher power....

that's funny!

that is funny
since we want and expect to be judged by at least our peers, then it should read equal to or higher power.
Would you sit and be judged for your deeds by some low life?
Maybe spell everything out before some mutt and if it barks once you're free, twice locked up?
It's my nature to feel I get a fair shake, don't know about the rest of you.

tjBill - 9-23-2008 at 03:34 PM

Has the news released the names of the two Americans killed at La Mesa prision yet?

postholedigger - 9-24-2008 at 02:04 PM

I love that quote, and I'm not sure I'm getting it 100% right but here goes:

I'd hate to trust my fate to a group of 12 people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.