El Chapo's son involved in police shootout
The son of infamous drug lord "El Chapo" was arrested briefly by security forces before cartel gang members freed him after a wild gun battle in the streets of a Mexican city.
Ovidio Guzman Lopez was one of four men taken into custody when National Guard officers stormed a house in Culiacan city, in the country's west, around 3.30pm local time, CNBC reported.
Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of El Chapo, was arrested briefly today in Mexico. Mexico Police
Vehicles on fire during a clash between armed gunmen and Federal police and military soldiers, in the streets of the city of Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico. EPA/AAP
Mexico's Secretary of Defence Alfonso Durazo said guard members came under fire from the house around 3.30pm as they were conducting patrols in the area.
The violence quickly escalated as Sinaloa cartel members opened fire. Roads in the city were blocked by burning trucks and army teams. Images on Twitter showed masked gunmen operating machine guns.
After hours of running gun battles in the city of Culiacan, the current whereabouts of one of Chapo's sons Ovid Guzman, who was captured by security forces but possibly released hours later, are unknown. EPA/AAP
Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the head of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel is serving a life sentence in jail. AP/AAP
The shootout forced residents to flee in a panic while others sought shelter in nearby homes and businesses.
CNN reported that the guards were forced to suspend the operation due to safety risk to the public.
Durazo said Lopez was released in order to protect members of the public and that officials were forced to back down when the security forces were overpowered by cartel members.
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