AP: Mexican Soldiers Arrest EP Man Accused Of Cartel Murders

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) – Soldiers arrested a man they say executed 18 people in a series of attacks this year in this violence-plagued border city.

Michael Escalante, 29, of El Paso, Texas, was allegedly a member of “La Linea,” a group of hit men working for the Juarez cartel, according to a release Thursday from the Mexican Defense Department.

Last week authorities arrested two other alleged La Linea members, charging one with 211 murders and another with 33 murders. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico’s deadliest city, has seen more than 1,300 deaths this year.

Further south in Morelia, police said Wednesday that they seized eight counterfeit police and rescue vehicles including an intensive care ambulance with official-looking logos and paint jobs.

Police said the vehicles belonged to gang members who planned to use them to conduct illegal activities.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)