Olympics, Ryan Lochte incident, reporters find police exaggerated

[Independent voter]

News reporters find that the only damage the US swimmers did was to tear a paper poster and pee on some bushes.

Police in Latin America make me real nervous. The guards were off duty police. Neither understood the other's language.






http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...dent/89228124/

RIO DE JANEIRO — Police in Rio never questioned four U.S. swimmers about their alleged vandalism of a gas station restroom, further evidence that a poster was the only property damaged by Ryan Lochte during a stop that ended in a heated exchange with security guards and set off an international controversy that upstaged the Olympics.
The details came to light Tuesday after USA TODAY Sports viewed transcripts of testimony given by the swimmers to Rio law enforcement officials. An *extensive review of surveillance footage and a visit to the gas station as part of a USA *TODAY Sports investigation published Sunday had previously sup*ported a state*ment by swim*mer Gunnar Bentz that he did not see anyone vandalize the rest*room.

Lochte has said his first account of the Aug. 14 incident to a journalist and police was exaggerated. He omitted that he and his teammates voluntarily stopped at the gas station, where they urinated behind bushes, overstated the property taken from him by the security guards and the proximity of a gun pointed at him. Lochte has been pilloried for his initial statements and faces, along with his three teammates, a disciplinary hearing before the International Olympic Committee.
Rio police characterized the incident as extensive vandalism committed by rambunctious young athletes, a portrayal that heightened the backlash against Lochte in particular. In a news conference Thursday, the head of Rio’s civil police force, Fernando Veloso, said Lochte and his teammates broke a mirror and soap dispenser in the bathroom.
But in their signed testimonies to police, the athletes were asked only about — and admitted to — damage to an advertising poster with a metallic frame that was knocked down by Lochte.
“It was only an advertising sign,” said Breno Melaragno Costa, a lawyer who represented U.S. swimmer Jimmy Feigen in a settlement to avoid charges of filing a false police report. “This should not have been called vandalism. This is a manipulated piece of information.”

A witness, Fernando Deluz, who served as an intermediary when he saw security guards draw a gun on the swimmers, also says he understood the dispute to be only about the sign.
“I asked (the gas station employees) what was happening. They said, ‘Hey, the gringos broke a sign and peed here,’ ” Deluz said in an interview with USA TODAY Sports. He added that employees spoke to him only about damage to a sign and that he thinks the athletes were in the wrong, trying to leave the scene of damage without offering compensation.
As new details of the encounter continue to emerge, legal experts in Rio say the security guards’ actions merit an investigation, claiming they might have broken Brazilian law by threatening the swimmers with guns as they demanded payment.
The crime experts point to arbitrary exercise of personal force, or vigilante justice.
USA TODAY Sports submitted written questions to the Rio police about the extent of the damage caused by the athletes and whether the security guards would be investigated. A police spokesperson confirmed by phone the receipt of the email but had not responded to questions.
Rio state judge João Batista Damasceno compared the incident to a landlord collecting rent from a tenant — with a gun in his hand. Even if the money is owed, force cannot be used, he said.
“This security guard or any other person can run after the person” who is fleeing the scene, Damasceno said. “They get you, hold on to you and call the police, which will eventually accompany that person to the station.”
An open question is whether the security guards can allege they used their weapons in self-defense against the swimmers.
In the athletes’ recounting of the night, they first see a gun on the hips of two men who approach their taxi as they try to leave the location. Two of the swimmers begin to walk away from the car, according to their testimony — and then the security guards draw their guns. Deluz also said that the guards pulled their guns when the men attempted to leave the scene.
Damasceno and Costa said the use of a weapon in such a situation is not justified.
“The security guards weren’t defending themselves. They were holding the athletes by pointing a firearm,” Costa said. “It is common (in Brazil) and ends up being natural to have private armed security. Which is very dangerous — this case came close to being a tragedy. They were drunk youth being held by two armed security guards.”

Veloso said at the news conference that nothing in the investigation had indicated an inappro*priate use of force. He described it as necessary to “contain” the swimmers who were particularly strong men.
“Was there a weapon pointed at them? Yes,” Veloso said.
Veloso said the guards testified that the “physical physique of the athletes” and the fact that they were very “unsettled” were reasons to have used their weapons. In none of the accounts, from the athletes or from the police, do the security guards ever fire shots.
Lochte said the security guards identified themselves as members of law enforcement, and Veloso confirmed as much. Costa, who has seen the police report, told local news media that the guards also were prison guards who work in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais.
Costa takes issue with the charge against his client, Feigen, of “provoking action of authorities by communicating the occurrence of a crime ... known to not be true.” In a statement to police, Feigen said he had not wanted to admit to police originally that he had urinated in a public place and that he did not want to give details about Lochte’s knocking down of a sign because he did not witness it.
Feigen paid about $10,000 in a settlement to avoid charges, though he could have performed community service. Costa said the swimmer wanted to leave Brazil as soon as possible.
“People’s hatred scared him and made him scared for his physical safety,” Costa said.
Damasceno added that, while the story has gotten outsized coverage compared with the relatively trivial nature of the men’s alleged crime, it brings to light important issues in Brazilian day-to-day life, including the murky zone between law enforcement and and how the private security contractors operate. He said the fact the incident happened with American athletes highlighted this concern in a way it wouldn’t have had it involved poor Brazilians.

[Nerdgasm]

I don't think the vandalism is the actual problem. The problem is that they lied about being stopped and robbed by police disguised muggers. Brazilian public also took offense on the fact that they supposedly (According to witnesses) acted arrogantly showing money and shit. Altho that may be a misunderstanding about them offering to pay the damages.

Yeah, it was scalated out of proportions, but that's because it was somewhat of an international incident.

[Venant]

I don't think the vandalism is the actual problem. The problem is that they lied about being stopped and robbed by police disguised muggers. Brazilian public also took offense on the fact that they supposedly (According to witnesses) acted arrogantly showing money and shit. Altho that may be a misunderstanding about them offering to pay the damages.

Yeah, it was scalated out of proportions, but that's because it was somewhat of an international incident.

The fact that the 'police' took $400 off him for tearing down a poster suggests that he was in fact robbed, by the police. The government in Brazil is corrupt to the core, even if Lochte was acting like a drunk asshole this sounds like a textbook shakedown.

[Ironhorn]

The police were not even involved in this case until the brick for brains reported that they had been robbed.

Stop making excuses for stupid people.

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Lochte didn't have to pay anything if he had agreed to stay until the police arrived, they wanted to get away as soon as possible. And it wasn't 400.

You don't seem to know how it works. If you don't pay a bribe they take you in and hold you for a few days or work you over until you do. The police in most Central and South American police are corrupt as hell extortion is a huge problem.

[Bollocks]

You don't seem to know how it works. If you don't pay a bribe they take you in and hold you for a few days or work you over until you do. The police in most Central and South American police are corrupt as hell extortion is a huge problem.

What?????? Which country does that?

[Kapadons]

All this bullshit over peeing in the Bushes and a $5 poster? I did that shit this afternoon ffs

[Foosha]

What?????? Which country does that?

Every South American and Central American country you ignoramus

[DeadmanWalking]

If you have ever heard lochte speak then you would know what Brazil is saying is true, like when he was asked to define what makes him who he is and he responded with a confused expression, "I am... Ryan... Lochte?"

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All this bullshit over peeing in the Bushes and a $5 poster? I did that shit this afternoon ffs

Were you representing your country at the time? No? Didn't think so.

[Eviscero]

Lochte is a dingus to be sure. I am also certain he was drunk and committed at least minor vandalism. I am also certain there was a gun pointed at him by a security authority. I am also certain he paid them money to get them to let up. All these things happened. Sounds a lot like the way he described it, and a lot like what happens all the time to foreigners in foreign countries.

[Deleted]

Got to be a patriot and defend idiots because 'Murican I guess.
But then again, you people also defended murderers so it's ok.

[anyaka21]

I saw this coming.

It doesn't change the fact that Lochte is a complete dumbass.

If he just keeps his mouth shut instead of exaggerating this into a tale of him standing up to corruption in Rio, and how he had a loaded gun to his forehead, then everything turns out fine.

Let's also be clear here, other swimmers actual testimonies are consistent with them just pissing in the bushes, tearing down a poster, and essentially being extorted for some cash.

As said though, Lochte is still the dumbass that made what happened turn into an international incident. If he tells the truth from the beginning, then he would still have his endorsements and not be gold medal pariah.

[Independent voter]

Riiight like the police would do that with foreign athletes during the Olympics, keep staying delusional.

They were off duty police, it's very common for off duty police to work security during their off hours and this is true even in the US. I wouldn't doubt it's true in Denmark as well.

In Brazil police often raid slums were poor people live and shoot them at random.

[Macaquerie]

Who is going to step up and take a stand against the ongoing oppression of white male athletes by shady third world rent a cops? #DoucheLivesMatter

[Enthusiastic Steward]

They were off duty police, it's very common for off duty police to work security during their off hours and this is true even in the US. I wouldn't doubt it's true in Denmark as well.

In Brazil police often raid slums were poor people live and shoot them at random.

They were saying more that its highly unlikely the police, even if they are corrupt, would detain and physically work over high-profile foreign athletes for the purpose of extorting a bribe during an event like the Olympics with a giant spotlight on them.

[Bollocks]

Every South American and Central American country you ignoramus

First not every country in South America or Central america is equal. Second do you actually believe for one moment that you are forced to work in order to pay a bribe, in all countries in South America and Central America?

[TwoNineMarine]

I don't think anyone really cares that he got drunk and pissed on some shit. Everyone does dumb shit like that.

It's definitely more so the fact that he lied about it and wouldn't man up.

[satimy]

I don't think the vandalism is the actual problem. The problem is that they lied about being stopped and robbed by police disguised muggers. Brazilian public also took offense on the fact that they supposedly (According to witnesses) acted arrogantly showing money and shit. Altho that may be a misunderstanding about them offering to pay the damages.

Yeah, it was scalated out of proportions, but that's because it was somewhat of an international incident.

They were stopped and held at gunpoint while someone demanded money, the only lie was that the gun wasn't touching his head.

This is simply liberal media wanting to protect the poor corrupt brown country and make the white guy look evil

[Malacrass]

We have these olympic games in an area with a high crime rate, with the whole world looking at the country. Consequently all officials responsible are on edge. The organisers, the security, everyone involved. The media is just waiting for something outrageous to happen.

But nothing happens. Except someone just making up a story about being robbed.

His actions weren't the problem, lying about it was. He successfully spread the stereotype of the American jerk.

[PACOX]

What do you guys like to say?

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes

He broke the law and got a gun pointed at him by security. The police then stepped in because Lochte decided to go around telling people he was robbed at gunpoint. End of story, stop trying to defend a liar and vandal.

[Nerdgasm]

They were stopped and held at gunpoint while someone demanded money, the only lie was that the gun wasn't touching his head.

This is simply liberal media wanting to protect the poor corrupt brown country and make the white guy look evil

I'm not talking about what whatever your media is saying. I'm talking about what was published by our police and local media here in Brazil.

Back in the day, they said they where stopped by a false blitz (A police road block used for inspection), and then robbed at gun point. When in fact they stopped at a gas station, broke shit up and where held up by the security while waiting for the police to arrive. Even their previous taxi driver refused to take them away. People who offered to translate the talk said the athletes where acting arrogantly and insulting the workers.

Sadly this is something that could be easily solved if the goddamn police had arrived in time. It's not that uncommon for them to take years to appear or even not appear at all.