Leader of anti-crime group in Mexico attacked

He escapes harm in gunbattle at house

By Sandra Dibble and Anna Cearley

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS

November 28, 2007

TIJUANA – As the head of a statewide anti-crime group, Alberto Capella has spoken out boldly against violence and corruption in Baja California. But yesterday he verged on tears and struggled for words just hours after surviving an attack at his house by heavily armed assailants.

“I was terrified, like a cat locked in a box,” said Capella, president of the Baja California Citizens Commission for Public Safety. He was shaken, but not physically harmed.

Capella is considered a strong candidate for a top police post in the mayoral administration that is expected to take office Saturday. Neither Capella nor Mayor-elect Jorge Ramos would confirm the appointment yesterday.

Despite the numerous gunshots in his middle class neighborhood, Capella said police did not immediately respond, even though his house is a block from a city police substation and across the street from a state group that investigates kidnappings and other organized crime activities.