A troubled incident unfolded near a dam in the Toledo region where a group of teenagers, five youths in total, became involved in a robberybotechnical attempt that ended with a drowning tragedy and a rapid police pursuit. The sequence began when the youngsters, four of whom could swim, attempted to rob a local tobacconist in the town of San Martín de Pusa. In their flight, they fled toward the El Carpio de Tajo reservoir, moving with a blue vehicle that drew the attention of nearby patrols and alerted authorities to their possible whereabouts.
Authorities soon tracked the blue vehicle as it moved through the area, and patrols from several nearby municipalities were mobilized to intercept the suspects. As officers from the Malpica de Tajo police station joined the pursuit, additional patrols from Hinojosa de San Vicente, El Carpio de Tajo, and La Puebla de Montalbán were deployed to assist in the operation. The group eventually left their vehicle and ran on foot toward the surrounding terrain, attempting to evade capture while continuing the chase.
The five youths reached the vicinity of the Ronda hermitage in El Carpio de Tajo and decided to abandon the vehicle, continuing their escape on foot along the banks and into the water. Civil guards pursued them toward the reservoir, where authorities say four of the individuals were able to reach the shore with the assistance of the officers. The fifth person went deeper into the reservoir; despite swift dives by civilian rangers to rescue him, the effort was hampered by the water’s depth and high turbidity. The rangers and guards monitored the area closely as the search continued.
In the hours that followed, the operation intensified with the activation of a medical helicopter and an ambulance, along with firefighters and specialized divers from the Underwater Activities Group (GEAS), all coordinating under the local Civil Guard command. The pooled resources conducted a thorough search of the reservoir, aimed at locating the missing teen and ensuring the safety of any bystanders in the vicinity. GEAS divers ultimately recovered a body, which was transported to the Toledo Forensic Institute for autopsy and formal identification as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.
Among the group initially suspected in the robbery, five young people, aged roughly between 15 and 19, were found to have prior police records, with two of them on a watch list for entry into a youth facility. The investigation proceeded with determinations made regarding the status of each individual. Three of the four who had managed to escape the reservoir were placed in the care of the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office as potential perpetrators of the attempted robbery. The fourth detainee remained in the custody of the Torrijos Court of First Instance for consideration, based on the degree of the alleged attempt and the surrounding circumstances of the pursuit.
The unfolding events in this case highlight the risks associated with violent crime and the unpredictable dangers of pursuing suspects near large bodies of water. Authorities emphasized the importance of swift response, coordinated search efforts, and safety protocols when young people become involved in violent crime and attempt to flee through hazardous environments. The incident also raises questions about youth crime prevention, the availability of support services, and the process by which young offenders are assessed by judicial authorities as investigations proceed. The Civil Guard continues to review the circumstances and to keep the public informed through official statements and ongoing updates. The focus remains on public safety, accountability, and the well-being of all individuals involved in this case.