A police abuse case that began with a July 2024 detention in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone has moved into a new court stage. Two municipal officers now face proceedings after a judge reviewed evidence tied to allegations from a gay couple from San Luis Potosí. The ruling also placed limits on contact with the victims. The case follows an earlier human rights finding and has drawn attention from local LGBTQ advocacy groups as the investigation continues.
Judge Moves Against Vallarta Police in Gay Couple Case
Two Puerto Vallarta municipal police officers were linked to criminal proceedings in an alleged abuse-of-authority case in the Romantic Zone.
This case stems from the detention of a gay couple on July 19, 2024. Court reports identified the officers as Roberto “N” and Luis Antonio “N.” The victims are Christopher Duifhuis Rivera and Juan Manuel López López, a couple from San Luis Potosí.
A control judge in Puerto Vallarta reviewed evidence from anti-corruption prosecutors. The judge found enough evidence to link the two officers to the proceedings.
Separate precautionary measures were also imposed. Both officers must sign in monthly before the state unit that supervises those measures. They cannot approach or contact the victims for six months. Prosecutors now have four months to complete the complementary investigation.
The initial hearing unfolded in two parts, on May 20 and May 25. According to the same report, the officers used the legal extension allowed before the judge ruled on their legal status.
Case follows human rights finding
The court action follows an earlier finding by the Jalisco State Human Rights Commission, known as CEDHJ. Vallarta Daily previously reported that the commission’s Propuesta de Conciliación 67/2026/III found rights violations tied to the same detention.
A report on the CEDHJ finding said the detention lacked legal support. Toxicology tests performed that day came back negative. The report said those results weakened the stated accusation of drug use in public.
Even so, the then-municipal judge imposed a penalty on each man. Each faced either 36 hours of arrest or a 2,071-peso fine. The couple paid 4,142 pesos to regain their liberty, according to the same account.
CEDHJ also found that police used restraint rings that caused wrist injuries to both men. Its findings cited violations of personal liberty, legal security, personal integrity, and non-discrimination.
Civil groups accompanied the complaint
Tribuna de la Bahía reported that the Centro Comunitario Gay+ de Vallarta and Movimiento por la Igualdad en México, known as MOVii, accompanied the case. The groups described the ruling as a precedent in complaints involving police abuse and LGBTQ rights in Puerto Vallarta.
The alleged abuse took place in one of the city’s most visible nightlife and tourist zones. That gives the case a public-safety dimension beyond the conduct of two officers. Police accountability in the Romantic Zone affects trust in officers.
Such trust can shape whether alleged victims report abuse, speak with investigators, or seek help after contact with authorities. No conviction has been reported in the case.
Now, the proceedings move into the complementary investigation period. During that period, the six-month no-contact order and monthly reporting requirement remain in effect.
