Buenos Aires City Police Officer Carlos Javier Pelozo was on the verge of being dismissed from the force this Tuesday after being arrested for hitting a motorcyclist and shooting dead the man's cousin in the town of Morón, Buenos Aires Province. According to the Argentine News Agency, Pelozo has been placed on passive service, the step before being expelled from the institution, as reported in Institutional Order of the Day (ODI) number 228 of the city police. The incident for which the officer is detained occurred over the weekend, amid a strong confrontation, after the officer was recognized by the family of a motorcyclist he had hit hours earlier and abandoned at the scene. The officer was separated from the Buenos Aires City Police by the decision of the Internal Affairs Office until his legal situation is resolved, and his situation has worsened in recent hours. It all began on Saturday morning in the 20 de Junio neighborhood of Morón, when the officer was driving his personal vehicle, a red Renault Sandero, according to police sources informed by the Argentine News Agency. During that trip, “he hit a motorcycle with a young man known as ‘Pitu’ on board,” who suffered serious injuries and had to be urgently taken to the Haedo Institute. After the incident, according to the victim's family, “the police officer fled without attending to the victim.” About six hours later, the officer decided to report to the Morón 4th Police Station, which has jurisdiction in the crash area. Since he arrived without the vehicle involved, the personnel at the station indicated that he had to retrieve it and return with the car for the expert reports to be carried out, warning that if he did not do so, he would be detained. The officer returned to the station around 4:45 p.m., but his arrival coincided with the presence of neighbors from the 20 de Junio neighborhood and the victim's relatives, who recognized him. At that moment, a strong confrontation took place. Amid the turmoil, the officer tried to flee, but was pursued by a young man, Juan Manuel De Vita, 19, who was the victim's cousin and managed to kick his car and hit him. It was then that “the officer drew his weapon and fired two shots” at the corner of Chile and Grito de Alcorta. The boy died on the spot, and after the shooting, the officer fled again in the red Sandero. However, this time he was located by municipal security cameras and arrested in the Morón Centro area. Meanwhile, at the corner where the murder occurred, a large number of neighbors gathered and staged a public demonstration. Amid shouts and incidents, they accused the police officers of manipulating the deceased's body and the evidence left behind by the shots.
