The Cuban regime's police force has begun to consolidate its ranks following the murder of Caibarién's sector chief, Leonel Mesa Rodríguez. According to a Facebook post from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), a revolutionary reaffirmation ceremony took place at the Provincial Unit of Surveillance and Patrol in Sancti Spíritus to honor Captain Leonel Mesa Rodríguez, who died in the line of duty.
Images from the event show officers reading a statement and displaying photos of Raúl Castro. Captain Mesa Rodríguez, aged 62, was discovered dead early Friday morning on a stretch of road between Remedios and Caibarién, in the La Reforma area—where he served as sector chief—with six stab wounds and a gunshot to the head. His official motorcycle was found next to his body.
The officer was laid to rest with military honors on Saturday in his hometown, Taguasco, Sancti Spíritus. The ceremony was attended by family, neighbors, coworkers, and senior officials from MININT, led by the Minister himself, Army Corps General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas. Also in attendance were the first secretaries of the Communist Party for Villa Clara and Sancti Spíritus, Suseli Morfa González—known among Cubans as the "millionaire psychologist"—and Delvy Pérez Martín, respectively.
The regime described the incident as a direct attack and confirmed on Saturday afternoon that they had apprehended the suspected assailant in the city of Remedios. The official report states that during the arrest, the deceased officer's service pistol, along with its magazine, and the knife used in the crime were seized.
The MININT has indicated that the suspect will face the corresponding legal proceedings, "in accordance with the severity of the revolutionary justice system and the gravity of the event." To date, the identity of the alleged attacker has not been disclosed.
Key Questions on the Caibarién Sector Chief's Murder
Who was Captain Leonel Mesa Rodríguez?
Captain Leonel Mesa Rodríguez was the sector chief in Caibarién, Cuba, who was murdered while on duty.
How did the authorities respond to the murder?
The authorities organized a revolutionary reaffirmation ceremony and arrested the suspected perpetrator in the city of Remedios.
What items were recovered during the suspect's arrest?
During the arrest, the officer's service pistol with its magazine and the knife used in the murder were recovered.