Police misconduct investigation in Neuquén

In Neuquén, Argentine authorities have charged several police officers following the death of 47-year-old José Galeano at the Hospital Horacio Heller. Galeano, a Paraguayan national, died in November after entering an emergency room in an agitated state while carrying a knife and having consumed cocaine.

An autopsy revealed fatal injuries, including bilateral rib fractures, severe pulmonary edema, and closed thoracic trauma resulting in a pneumothorax. While some injuries may be attributed to resuscitation efforts, forensic reports suggest others are consistent with physical reduction maneuvers used during a struggle to disarm him. Specifically, investigations indicate that while officers Marcelo Orellana and Gino Facci convinced Galeano to drop his weapon, subsequent restraint maneuvers reportedly caused fractures to his ribs and sternum.

Judge Luciano Hermosilla has validated charges brought by prosecutor Lorena Juárez against officers Marcelo Orellana, Gino Facci, Tomás Ontiveros, and Milton Torrico. The officers face charges of simple homicide with eventual intent and excess in the fulfillment of duty.

New evidence has emerged in the form of witness video footage showing Galeano handcuffed and lying face down. In the recording, Galeano is seen pleading for help while officers are observed pulling his hair and delivering a kick to his genital area. While the current charges focus on homicide and excess of duty, legal representatives for Galeano’s children are seeking more severe charges, alleging that the officers are “co-authors of torture resulting in death.”