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01/16/14 — National and international human rights advocates are applauding the Mexican government’s recent efforts made in a landmark case involving human rights violations by the Mexican military. Four suspects […]

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Originally Posted by Noticias

01/16/14 — National and international human rights advocates are applauding the Mexican government’s recent efforts made in a landmark case involving human rights violations by the Mexican military. Four suspects […]

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I am hoping the Baja Prosecutor for Human Rights will explain his role in the Gretchen Smith case. Gretchen is a US Missionary who witnessed the murder of a Rosarito Beach Lifeguard and became enraged when no one helped the victim. Instead they jailed her for days and sexually assaulted her while keeping her incommunicado. She accuses the new prosecutor of being directly involved whne he was the Rosarito Beach police chief- then they promoted him to the prosecutor position.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

I am hoping the Baja Prosecutor for Human Rights will explain his role in the Gretchen Smith case. Gretchen is a US Missionary who witnessed the murder of a Rosarito Beach Lifeguard and became enraged when no one helped the victim. Instead they jailed her for days and sexually assaulted her while keeping her incommunicado. She accuses the new prosecutor of being directly involved whne he was the Rosarito Beach police chief- then they promoted him to the prosecutor position.

I watched her 4 part video. I didn´t see that she was acting sane. She is in her pajamas barefoot at 8.30AM on the beach walking her dog. No cell phone and no ID. She screams at the pólice and accusses them of negligence and fights them violantly when they want to put her first in a patrol car, she was disruptive at the crime scene etc., and then in a cell. She repeatedly yells, in English, while in the cell. I see them reacting to a lady that has lost it. Where does she state she was sexually assulted? Try doing that in the US and she would have been charged with resisting arrest and asaulting police officers or commited to the county psychiatric hospital for 72 hour observation. Maybe this is Rosarito´s method of commiting her to "their" 72 hour psychiatric observation?

Originally Posted by MexicaliAlan

I watched her 4 part video. I didn´t see that she was acting sane. She is in her pajamas barefoot at 8.30AM on the beach walking her dog. No cell phone and no ID. She screams at the pólice and accusses them of negligence and fights them violantly when they want to put her first in a patrol car, she was disruptive at the crime scene etc., and then in a cell. She repeatedly yells, in English, while in the cell. I see them reacting to a lady that has lost it. Where does she state she was sexually assulted? Try doing that in the US and she would have been charged with resisting arrest and asaulting police officers or commited to the county psychiatric hospital for 72 hour observation. Maybe this is Rosarito´s method of commiting her to "their" 72 hour psychiatric observation?

I'm glad you watched her video. The way she was dressed is the way they had her in the holding cell those days- not even shoes. Yup, she lost it. Most people would too after seeing a lifeguard shot and all the first responders just watching him die on the sand. She caused a scene because she didn't understand why the Police didn't do anything to try to save his life. She did not understand it is not their job to save lives, just catch the gunman. Make no mistake, they did violate her human rights. They held her illegally and for far too long in the horrible conditions of the downtown police holding cell. She was entitled to food, clean water and a phone call- and she got none of those. Her breasts were grabbed and they mocked her, including the man who is now the Baja Prosecutor for Human Rights. Even the US Consulate said the abuse Grethcen Smith endured was "beyond the pale", but you seem to think it was fine- and even a publuc service to give her a 72 mental health time out. Do you think their "timeout" helped or harmed? The law is the law and treating an American Missionary who was traumatized by what she witnessed outside of the law (and apparently for their enjoyment) doesn't reflect well on Rosarito Beach at a time when they are struggling to revive tourism and the local economy. If you are comfortable the way she was treated, you're not in the majority. jmho.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

I'm glad you watched her video. The way she was dressed is the way they had her in the holding cell those days- not even shoes. Yup, she lost it. Most people would too after seeing a lifeguard shot and all the first responders just watching him die on the sand. She caused a scene because she didn't understand why the Police didn't do anything to try to save his life. She did not understand it is not their job to save lives, just catch the gunman. Make no mistake, they did violate her human rights. They held her illegally and for far too long in the horrible conditions of the downtown police holding cell. She was entitled to food, clean water and a phone call- and she got none of those. Her breasts were grabbed and they mocked her, including the man who is now the Baja Prosecutor for Human Rights. Even the US Consulate said the abuse Grethcen Smith endured was "beyond the pale", but you seem to think it was fine- and even a publuc service to give her a 72 mental health time out. Do you think their "timeout" helped or harmed? The law is the law and treating an American Missionary who was traumatized by what she witnessed outside of the law (and apparently for their enjoyment) doesn't reflect well on Rosarito Beach at a time when they are struggling to revive tourism and the local economy. If you are comfortable the way she was treated, you're not in the majority. jmho.

She was very violent and paid a price.

As far as them laughing/toying at/with the obese crazy acting lady in her pajamas, I understand that is not correct, but doesn´t surprise me.

As far as food, water and clothes, you need a friend or family member to do it for you, standard proceedure in many jails. As far as no phone call/calls that is abuse.

I invited Gretchen to our house after the video aired and she walked us through the whole ordeal. The minute she got out of jail she pointed her i-phone at herself and made that four part video. I thought it was brave of her to post it- given her admitted lapses in behavior while in custody. Last I heard she was still filing complaints. She does have about 100 positive videos about Rosarito Beach and her art project on YouTube- before and after this incident but everyone has a snapping point. Witnessing on-duty lifeguard Mar Tejeda be shot was hers. She didn't understand everyones roles at the crime scene except that saving the mans life was no one's priority. Her most recent videos show the drugged-out and passed out deportees who camp on the main beach. She's a missionary and she will move on when she feels her goal is accomplished.

Originally Posted by MexicaliAlan

She was very violent and paid a price.

As far as them laughing/toying at/with the obese crazy acting lady in her pajamas, I understand that is not correct, but doesn´t surprise me.

As far as food, water and clothes, you need a friend or family member to do it for you, standard proceedure in many jails. As far as no phone call/calls that is abuse.

I empathize with her plight but still am not convinced that she was not a contributing factor to much of what she endured. If any sexual abuse occured while she was in custody, that is indeed something that the CNDH needs to address. It is a very unfortunate and sad reality that a high percentage of women worldwide face at the hands of law enforcement.

I think that Gretchen could do herself a big favor in remaking these videos - dressed, composed and with a little forethought as to exactly what she will say.

I admit that I too find her coming off as a little bizarre in the videos and it certainly doesn't help her credibility.

JMHO