MEXICO URGED TO HAND OVER SUSPECTS.

Byline: Karen Rubin Staff Writer

The family of a slain Santa Clarita sheriff's deputy joined U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Monday in urging President Bush to press for the return of 360 Mexican fugitives suspected of committing capital crimes.

The Mexican government currently refuses to extradite Mexican citizens - or those with blood ties to Mexico - who are suspected of committing crimes in the U.S. that could result in life in prison or the death penalty.

``Mexico is fast becoming a safe haven for hard-core criminals,'' Feinstein said at a news conference in Los Angeles. ``If you steal a car in the United States, Mexico will return you to face prosecution and punishment. If you kill the driver, Mexico will protect you. This is not right.''

Over the past three years, the Mexican government has extradited 149 criminals, while the U.S. extradited 54 to Mexico, and about 70 criminal suspects a year are deported to the United States, Mexican officials say.

``Our internal proceedings must follow our treaty,'' said Enrique Zepeda, legal and law enforcement attache with the Mexican Attorney General's Office in Los Angeles.

Zepeda cited the Nov. 27 deportation of Sun Valley resident David Garcia, the 19-year-old suspected in the Nov. 15 slaying of Burbank police Officer Matthew Pavelka.

But victims' families have spoken out about their frustration and anger over not seeing justice served for their loved ones.

One of the first to speak was John March, the father of Deputy David March, 33, who was killed April 29, 2002, in Irwindale during a traffic stop. The primary suspect is Armando Garcia, a Mexican citizen who escaped to Mexico.

Mexican officials say that if Garcia is captured, they will extradite him only if U.S. officials waive the death penalty or life sentences.

``My son was shot the first time, and just to make sure, the creep walked up and shot him in the head to make sure he was dead,'' John March said. `'I just want this to stop. We have got to force the government of Mexico to change.''

Karen Rubin, [phone], Ext. 2109

karen.rubin(at)sgvn.com

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(Also ran in SAC edition) Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, flank Teri March, widow of Deputy David March, as she pleads for Mexico and the U.S. to reconsider their extradition treaty.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer