In a shocking turn, 11 police officers in the Dominican Republic have been detained after five people were killed during a police operation in Santiago earlier this month. Among those picked up are a captain and two sergeants — and they’re now waiting to appear in court.

Police say the men who died were part of a gang tied to kidnappings and drug trafficking, and that they opened fire first. But locals tell a different story, pointing out that one of the victims was a well-known barber in the neighborhood.

The incident sparked protests and has put even more heat on the Dominican police force, which already faces heavy criticism over extrajudicial killings. Human rights groups say more than 150 people have been killed by police so far in 2025 — nearly double last year’s total.

Now all eyes are on whether prosecutors will really follow through with an investigation, or if this will just fade away like so many other cases.