Baltazar Saucedo Estrada, alias "El Mataperros," is escorted by members of the new Fuerza Civil police force, during a media presentation in Monterrey, Mexico, Thursday Jan. 6, 2012. According to police authorities, Sauceda is an alleged member of the Zetas drug cartel and is considered the mastermind behind a casino fire that killed 52 people on Aug. 25, 2011 in Monterrey. (AP Photo/Hans-Maximo Musielik)
Baltazar Saucedo Estrada, alias "El Mataperros," is escorted by members of the new Fuerza Civil police force, during a media presentation in Monterrey, Mexico, Thursday Jan. 6, 2012. According to police authorities, Sauceda is an alleged member of the Zetas drug cartel and is considered the mastermind behind a casino fire that killed 52 people on Aug. 25, 2011 in Monterrey. (AP Photo/Hans-Maximo Musielik)
Baltazar Saucedo Estrada, alias "El Mataperros," center, is presented to the media as he is guarded by members of the new Fuerza Civil police force in Monterrey, Mexico, Thursday Jan. 6, 2012. According to police authorities, Sauceda is an alleged member of the Zetas drug cartel and is considered the mastermind behind a casino fire that killed 52 people on Aug. 25, 2011 in Monterrey. (AP Photo/Hans-Maximo Musielik)
Baltazar Saucedo Estrada, alias "El Mataperros," center, is presented to the media as he is guarded by members of the new Fuerza Civil police force in Monterrey, Mexico, Thursday Jan. 6, 2012. According to police authorities, Sauceda is an alleged member of the Zetas drug cartel and is considered the mastermind behind a casino fire that killed 52 people on Aug. 25, 2011 in Monterrey. (AP Photo/Hans-Maximo Musielik)
MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) ? Police in Mexico captured an alleged member of the Zetas drug cartel considered the mastermind behind a casino fire that killed 52 people in the northern city of Monterrey, authorities said Friday.
Jorge Domene, security agency spokesman for Nuevo Leon state, where Monterrey is located, said Baltazar Saucedo Estrada is a main hitman that was sought on a 15 million-peso, or $1 million, reward because of the casino attack.
Saucedo, nicknamed the "Dog Killer," was shown to reporters Friday in Monterrey in what has become usual procedure in drug war captures.
Domene said the suspect acknowledged he was involved in the Casino Royale arson and other high-profile crimes in routine confessions that may be permissible as court evidence.
The suspect told police the cartel targeted the casino because its owners hadn't paid extortion money, a theory officials confirm. At least one of the casino's owners has denied the claim to reporters.
Saucedo, 38, was arrested Thursday but lied about his identity, Domene said.
He added that Saucedo along with another man were detained by state police in Monterrey because they appeared suspicious.
Police ordered the two men to stop their van, but they gave chase and crashed into a car. Saucedo was identified hours later as he was being fingerprinted.
Authorities have arrested 17 of 32 suspects in the Aug. 25 casino arson. None have gone to trial.
In October, the Mexican army captured a top drug cartel lieutenant of the Zetas who allegedly ordered the attack.
The casino fire horrified Mexicans accustomed to daily decapitations and massacres, because most of the victims were middle-aged women who had gone to the casino to gamble or eat lunch with their friends.
Gunmen stormed into the building, spread gasoline and set the building on fire, trapping and asphyxiating dozens.
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