A Bayamón court found probable cause for arrest against a Puerto Rico Police Bureau officer over the March traffic strike that killed 19-year-old Dianelys P. Ortiz López, which occurred in front of the Virgilio Dávila public housing complex in Bayamón. Judge Irmarie Cintrón found probable cause on one count of negligent driving resulting in death, but dismissed the element of disregard for life and found no probable cause on the charge of leaving the scene.
The officer, identified as Arce Rivera, was set $10,000 bail, which she posted, and remains free pending a preliminary hearing. Prosecutor Carmen Iris Ortiz Rodríguez said the charge carries a three-year prison sentence. Defense attorney Peter Díaz argued his client had less than two seconds to react when the young woman crossed the road, said she was driving below the speed limit, and that after the impact she went to a nearby police station to report what happened.
He also said the alcohol test given to the officer came back negative. The victim’s relatives denounced what they consider special treatment toward the defendant because she is a police officer.