Fuerza Pública officers assigned to bicycle patrol in Costa Rica’s capital city are able to quickly respond to calls that require them to negotiate urban obstacles such as narrow streets, pedestrian areas, alleyways, and traffic jams. When it comes to dealing with suspects, these officers operate in pairs and are trained to swiftly dismount and initiate a short pursuit on foot before executing takedowns and detentions. Such actions were recently performed by officers in downtown San Jose.

 

Officers assigned to the Cathedral District around 6^th Avenue and 9^th Street, also known as Chinatown, witnessed the mugging of a female tourist from Sweden, who was relieved of her cellphone when a male perpetrator performed an aggressive snatch maneuver. The vigilant officers immediately initiated pursuit, which only lasted a few meters before they dismounted, took down the 34-year old suspect, and returned the stolen device to the owner. Since this criminal action was perpetrated in flagrante delicto, the officers transported the mobile phone snatcher to Flagrancy Court for a speedy trial where they will serve as witnesses and evidentiary victim statements will be introduced.

 

On the same day, a different bike patrol assigned to the Cathedral District intercepted a couple who had an arrest warrant for sexual assault. The warrant was issued in Penal Court on September 25^th, and was certified by a magistrate under document number 14-201217-431-PE. The bike officers had stopped on 4^th Avenue to monitor the flow of pedestrian traffic when they noticed a couple who matched the mug shots reviewed during morning roll call at the Central Precinct. The officers approached the couple and asked for identification, which confirmed the information on the outstanding warrant. Both suspects were transported to the prosecutors’ office, where they will be questioned prior to their appearance in court.

 

The 4^th Avenue pedestrian boulevard runs parallel to the Central Avenue boulevard of downtown San Jose; these two major pedestrian pathways in Costa Rica attract many tourists, and they are frequently patrolled by officers from Fuerza Publica and the Tourism Police Unit.