Police in Rosarito, Mexico, extorted money from Southern California lawyer Elliot Blair and his wife less than two hours before his mysterious death at a Mexican beach resort, but the couple did not have the amount initially demanded by the officer, a source close to the family said Wednesday.
According to the source, Blair was stopped by two police officers about 1 1/2 to 2 hours before his death for rolling through a stop sign while driving back from Splash restaurant to their hotel. The couple did not have the unidentified sum demanded by police, but gave $160 and were let go. They also were asked where they were staying.
The source said the family wants the alleged shakedown investigated — and potentially excluded — as an explanation for Blair’s fall Jan. 14 from the third story at the Las Rocas Resort and Spa in Rosarito Beach. Blair was found about 12:50 a.m., dressed in underwear, socks and a T-shirt beneath the open-air walkway.
