Mexican Soccer Star Overpowered Kidnappers, Wrestled Away Gun and Cellphone, Dialed Emergency Number

[TheWorldNewsOrg]

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — About 24 hours after he was kidnapped, Mexican soccer star Alan Pulido found himself alone with one of his captors and saw his chance. He wrestled away the man’s pistol and his cellphone and dialed Mexico’s emergency number.

Within minutes, he was free.

An official summary report of three calls to an emergency operator obtained by The Associated Press shows the 25-year-old forward for Olympiakos in the Greek league threatened and beat his captor while on the phone, demanding to be told where they were.

FILE – In a June 29, 2014 file photo, Mexico’s Alan Pulido consoles teammate Javier Hernandez (14) after the Netherlands defeated Mexico 2-1 during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and Mexico at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

The dramatic account of derring-do shows that Pulido — listed at 5-foot-9 (176 centimeters) and about 150 pounds (68 kilograms) — was the main actor in his own liberation, a contrast with initial official accounts of a rescue by police.

On a first call, with the kidnapper overpowered, Pulido peered out of a window and described the white two-story house with two cars, grey and red, parked in front.

In the next call, Pulido told the operator that state police had arrived outside. The operator told him to fire the pistol so they would know they were in the right spot, but Pulido said he had no bullets. He said police themselves were starting to shoot and described his shorts and tank top so they wouldn’t confuse him with the now-unconscious captor.

Once police arrived, he made a third call to confirm with the operator that they were trustworthy.

Tamaulipas state Attorney General Ismael Quintanilla had said at a news conference that emergency services received Pulido’s call for help after midnight Sunday due to “a careless act by his captors.”

In a later interview with Imagen Radio, Quintanilla confirmed that Pulido had forcibly seized the phone from his captor.

“There was an exchange of punches between them,” Quintanilla said, though he did not mention the pistol.

Quintanilla said Pulido cut his wrist when he broke a window trying to escape.

Pulido was nabbed by four armed people on a highway while returning from a party at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. His girlfriend, who was not taken, alerted others.

“Everyone began to activate to look for him, especially when we knew who he was, because we knew it was going to make a big ruckus and was going to be affecting us a lot in the press,” Quintanilla said.

Quintanilla said the army and federal and state police participated, including three helicopters.

Pulido’s family received the first ransom call around 1:30 p.m. Sunday and a second one a short time later, Quintanilla said.

The suspect was a 38-year-old from the Gulf coast state of Veracruz who Quintanilla said was a member of one of the criminal organizations operating in the city. He said three other suspects were identified and a search was underway.

After he was freed, Pulido was taken for medical and psychological review and then provided a statement to investigators.

He made a brief appearance before reporters, responding only to a question about how he was: “Very well, thank God.”

On Monday afternoon, Pulido thanked everyone for praying for his family through his official Twitter account. “They helped us a lot in this terrible experience of our lives that we do not desire for anyone.” He also thanked state and federal authorities for their help in his rescue.

Mexican Federal Police Commissioner Enrique Galindo said in an interview on Radio Formula that authorities believe the kidnappers were motivated solely by the potential financial gain of ransom — which was not paid.

The player’s Greek club expressed relief over his safe escape from kidnappers.

“Alan is safe and sound with his family. We thank everyone for their concern and prayers during the difficult moments he has lived,” Olympiakos said via Twitter.

The kidnapping happened one week before scheduled elections for a new governor. Tamaulipas, which borders Texas, has been plagued with violence in recent years as the Gulf and Zetas drug cartels battle for control. Both organizations also are involved in theft, extortion and kidnappings.

Pulido made his professional debut with the club Tigres of Monterrey, Mexico, but after four seasons there signed a 2014 contract with Olympiakos. He since has been embroiled in a legal dispute with Tigres over whether his Mexican contract remains valid.

He was on Mexico’s 2014 World Cup squad, but was omitted from the team for next month’s Copa America. National team coach Carlos Osorio recently said Pulido was omitted because of his contract troubles. He scored three goals in earlier call-ups for Mexico. He scored five goals in limited action for Olympiakos last season.

According to government statistics, there were 41 reported kidnappings in Tamaulipas in the first four months of this year compared to 78 during the same period last year. The actual number is believed to be much higher since most people do not report kidnappings to authorities.

Also from January to April 2016, there were 179 homicides in the state, compared to 211 during the same period last year.

Mexico saw another soccer-related kidnapping in 2005, when Cruz Azul’s Argentine coach, Ruben Omar Romano, was abducted in Mexico City. He was held 65 days before being freed by federal police.

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