A routine patrol in Tijuana shifted quickly after a passerby flagged down officers about a man carrying what appeared to be a green bazooka. Police say the man complied when told to drop the device, but the inspection raised bigger questions than the initial call. Investigators later linked the suspect to a separate judicial matter, and federal authorities were brought in because of the type of weapon involved. Here is what officials say happened, where it unfolded, and what comes next.
Citizen report leads officers to Sánchez Taboada
Authorities say the detention started with a direct report from a resident. In the early hours of Thursday, Feb. 19, a person flagged down a municipal patrol. The caller said a man nearby carried a green “bazooka.” Officers say they drove to the Sánchez Taboada neighborhood in Tijuana. They located the reported person within minutes, officials said. Police describe him walking with an object that resembled a long weapon. Officers used verbal commands and ordered him to drop it. They say he complied, and the device was secured on the street. No shots were reported, and no injuries were reported during the stop. Officials did not report any resistance. Officials identified the suspect as Miguel Ángel “N,” 48, also known as “El Tío Mike.” Local authorities framed the arrest as part of patrols in priority security zones. They credited the citizen report for triggering a rapid response and safe detention.
A weapon classified for military use
After the stop, police say they inspected the item and confirmed it was a launcher-type weapon. Official summaries describe it as a “lanzacohetes,” and some call it a launcher similar to a grenade launcher. In each account, the key point is the same. The weapon is classified for exclusive use by the armed forces. Authorities did not disclose a make or model. That classification moves the case beyond routine municipal weapons violations. Under Mexico’s firearms framework, restricted military weapons are investigated at the federal level. Authorities said they requested support from Defense personnel and from federal and state security units. The suspect was transferred to the Fiscalía General de la República for investigation. Federal prosecutors typically handle cases involving restricted weapons and custody protocols. For foreign residents, practical considerations matter. Mexico’s firearms rules are strict, and enforcement is often swift. When a weapon is deemed military-only, jurisdiction can shift quickly to federal authorities.
An arrest warrant surfaces during the ID check
Police reported a second development after the detention. Officers say they verified the suspect’s identity through dispatch and radio systems. They were advised of an active arrest warrant, officials said. Officials said the warrant was still in force. Authorities described it as for “homicidio calificado,” often translated as aggravated or qualified homicide. No public summary included details of the underlying case. Officials did not name a victim or cite a court file number. They also did not state when the alleged crime occurred or where it was filed. Police said the man was placed at the disposal of federal authorities. They cited both the restricted weapon and the outstanding warrant. Separately, municipal statements described him as a suspected “generator of violence.” They linked that label to several neighborhoods in Tijuana’s south and west. The label is not a criminal charge, but agencies use it to flag recurring suspects in local violence patterns.
What is known and what remains unclear
Authorities have not said whether the launcher was loaded or operational. They have not linked it to a specific attack, threat, or planned act. Officials also have not described how the suspect obtained the weapon. Those answers often depend on forensic testing, records checks, and interviews. Investigators also need to document the chain of custody for the seized item. In Mexico, federal prosecutors can open a weapons case while a court warrant is executed. If the homicide warrant is confirmed, the suspect may face separate proceedings. That process can run alongside any federal weapons investigation. The suspect remains under investigation on both tracks. For residents and visitors, the episode highlights how a street report can escalate. It also shows how multiple agencies can enter a case within hours. In the days after an arrest, public details can remain limited. Further updates usually come through official statements or court records, once filings advance.