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CNN NEWSROOM

Brazolian Police Nerws Conference. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired August 18, 2016 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[15:00:01] FERNANDO VELOSO, CHIEF OF CIVIL POLICE (though translation): The work of the police was very, very difficult due to the lack of information that we have and the very few information that we are able to gather from -- to both victims. They were very contradictory. There were a lot of contradictions since the beginning.

The team coordinated by our chief of police, Alexandre Braga, and then we start receiving some information that were clarifying how actually the incident took place.

The first information that we were able to gather was from a taxi driver who he drove two ladies, two girls, from -- they were leaving that party. And that -- those two girls, they were -- they're saying they were -- in a way, they were dating. They had some interaction in a way with the swimmers, the athletes.

They mentioned that to the taxi driver. The taxi driver, when he saw what occurred when he saw everything on the media based on what he heard from those two girls in the taxi, he brought that information to our tourist police department. So then we realized that probably, by now, some of the athletes already had a story to lie. This was not disseminated, but now we can tell that was true.

We established several measures to end investigation. We gather surveillance video from the gas station. Also from other places when they arrive at the athletes village. And then we're trying to get witness that could tell what happened. And during that time our citizen command center which was created to interact with civil society, some people went there and said that they knew exactly what happened and it was not really a robber, but it was actually a great confusion.

So, this citizen command center, they got in touch with our head of police, Alexandre Braga, sitting next to me, and these people, they came and told exactly what happened. They were afraid to talk to the police because they were afraid of some kind of retaliation because we're very well known and renowned for foreign and athletes. We talk again to these people and told them it was key for us to get these statement.

So based on that statement, we then were able to understand exactly what really happened that day. We also heard other witnesses. We are also listening, as I speak, other witnesses. So this investigation is, again, under way, as I mentioned to all of you here, that it's in progress. And during this investigation, even the taxi driver, he presented himself to the police department.

We contacted our tourist police department. We heard then the taxi driver, and he confirmed. He in a statement confirmed what the police already thought was going on.

Our tactical and scientific department is providing some kind of analysis of the gas station which was probably vandalized by one or by all of the swimmers. These are some of the measures that we implemented, that we can share. We all here, maybe my colleague Alexandre Braga can tell a little bit more. We cannot -- we will try to reduce the number of questions that you might have that's why we are providing this analysis.

No, hold on. It's not ready for questions yet. Right now as we speak, what the police can affirm, there was no robberies the way it was reported or claimed by the athletes. They were not victims of the criminal actions that they claim they were. The police can't affirm that.

Since we still have some measures -- for instance, we still have to listen to witnesses, two of the athletes that are still in Rio. We have not concluded our investigation. Therefore, we are not going to answer questions that relate to what is -- how they are going to be -- what kind of crime they will have to answer.

[15:05:07] These questions we cannot answer right now. Why? Because the measures to provide these kind of questions are still going on. We need to understand what each athlete actually did so in order to define what was the crime that anyone committed, if they committed. This is the real story. I say that's probably the real story, because we are still going to listen to other witnesses.

So when they left that party, they stopped at the gas station. They went to the bathrooms, as the surveillance video has shown, and they literally -- one or all of them -- started to vandalize the bathroom inside of the gas station, damaging some mirrors and things that they had inside that bathroom.

With this altercation, some employees from the gas station tried to control that situation, as the surveillance video also show, the images also show the athletes going back to the taxi and trying to get away from the gas station.

When the gas station's employees realize what was going on there, the security guards asked the taxi driver to not leave that place and wait for the police to arrive. We have also asked the police report saying that they were asked to go to this place. It has already been confirmed by our military police here in Rio.

So the athletes -- they refused to stay there. They didn't want to wait for the police to arrive. During that time, a third person offered to be a kind of interpreter because the security guards of the gas station didn't speak English and the athletes didn't speak Portuguese. So this third person, it's going to also be heard -- we are going to have a hearing at this possible interpreter -- explain then this interpreter explain to the athletes what they had done. So those vandalists, attitude or behavior created a damage to the gas station. They had to pay for that. So they offer to pay. They paid with a $20 bill and $100, 100 plus $20, yeah. So a 100 real, the Brazilian currency, and then $20.

So they left that money just to -- almost like to pay for the damage that they cause and leave the place before the police could arrive. The surveillance video of the gas station confirmed that version that is also being confirmed by one of the athletes. He is a witness, so he gave his statement as a witness. And then he reported to us all those facts that I'm describing to you now.

This is the name of the two swimmers who are at the -- well, hold on, hold on a second. I am going to finish my presentation and so -- and then later on you will be able -- we will open to Q&A. OK, I'm going to tell you the names of the swimmers. I'm trying to help you all here. Please.

One of them confirmed that version, so we have another component saying that actually there was no robbery against the athletes. The surveillance video images that also as the statements from the taxi driver, the security guards shows there was no kind of violence against the athletes when they were at the gas station. No physical or verbal violence that could lead -- that they could think that they are being victims of a robbery. No, there was not such a thing. The images also show the moment when the athletes are sitting on the ground. One of them started to stand.

[15:10:07] And we can see, based again on the surveillance videos and the statement of the witness, we can notice and realize there was no violence. So their claim that they are being a victim of an assault or robbery of any kind of violence, it's not true.

Hold on a second, I'm going to ask my colleague, Alexandre Braga, who is the head of the Brazilian tourist police. And then later on we're going to open for Q&A. Raise your hands only after Alexandre Braga finish.

ALEXANDRE BRAGA, CHIEF OF TOURIST POLICE (through translation): I think your analysis is really clear and coherent. I think you presented everything that we had to say. Raise your hands those that would like to ask a question. OK, I'm going to alternate. Let's start with ladies first. Ladies first.

UNDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible Question)

VELOSO: Well, you have three questions. One for each journalist. OK. We will ask if he was a gunpoint. Yes. Some of the security guards describe the athletes and based on one of the athletes was really disturbed somehow. He was actually very kind of angry. So there is the use of a weapon to control probably one of them. The answer, yes.

And the question was, what has anything related to the girls. Well, because this brings a reason why. So the first version that we had, the police had, we started with very few information and very -- information that were very not real and what the statement of these girls shows a reason. So we believe one of the athletes has a relationship with someone else and wants -- possibly his girlfriend -- not to know what happened that night so he had potentially a reason to deny what happened.

This is not enough reason for us to conclude what we are doing. We had the taxi driver that came and told us what was -- what the girls told him. So we are sharing this with you now because it could be potentially a reason.

So your third question, why so difficult. Because the military police went to the gas station. And I, you know, the investigation is still under way and I cannot provide you with any information, but a priority, we know the police was asked to go to the gas station. When police arrived there, was everything over, it was just an altercation, everything was fine.

And the state of Rio de Janeiro -- I don't have the number out of my head, but during one year, the police departments, they had more than one million this that the had to look for. This is being -- kind of being resolved. So I have someone asking a question on this side, someone, I'm going to do a lady, and then a gentleman. What do you think?

(OFF-MIC)

VELOSO: The question was about the athletes. Those that are being -- there were witnesses right now. I forgot to mention that now you know that they were not allowed to travel back home by a judge from Rio. They are being heard right now. One, there was an interpreter there helping him to provide his statement and he admitted this version, the version that I just shared with you all here.

No, he didn't provide any statement to the police, so he didn't lie to the police. So, what is the name of the swimmers was here? We have to confirm this later because we not quite sure.

BRAGA: I can tell you other thing. Ryan Lotche, U.S. Ryan is going to be heard later on. The two are being heard now.

[15:15:02] VELOSO: The security guards -- hold on. We have to respect. You have to raise your hand and wait for your turn. I go now another lady. Ask your question, please.

(OFF-MIC)

VELOSO: Well, the question was about if he had a gun at his forehead. Well, that could be a sign of extortion. Yes, possibly. We -- in order to find out, we now have to conclude the investigation. As of now, we have two security guards that have four very strong men, the athletes, with a very appropriate behavior, breaking things, damaging things at this gas station, and showing that they were brought to escalate this kind of violence in a will, the violence that was against material things could be against the security guards or people around. So the security guards' attitude probably justified in this case, because if I have a weapon, I have to control to not allow this person to get close to my weapon. The question should be, there was an excess of the use of the weapon, probably yes or probably no. It depends on the situation. Up to now we see there was no access. We are still going to hear other witnesses. Right now as we probably we have a new news coming up.

Based on what the statement of one of the athletes that we have already heard, there was no such the use of weapon by the security guard. But we cannot answer. Listen, please, pay attention. The investigation is still under way. I'm not quite sure.

Please, you have to accept one thing. We have statements that we are getting right now. We are mentioning them now as -- we don't have them finalized. For instance, the experts to do an analysis of the gas station, they are doing right now. If we are going to speak of every single detail, we'll not be able to provide you with all the answers. OK. So the other side now? A gentleman.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible Question)

Well, the first answer yes. The one of the athletes that was a little bit to having this kind altercation was Ryan Lochte.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible Question)

VELOSO: OK, let's answer this question because I forgot to mention. It might be very important. We don't have a conclusion about that now. That's why it started about the behavior of all the athletes. We need to continue and finalize our investigation.

And in the end, we come to the conclusion there was some kind of behavior that we believe there was something that actually they did based on the Brazilian law, it could be actually depends on the conclusion of the investigation.

On normal situation, I would not answer this question because we cannot speculate. We cannot talk on hypothesis. But I'm going to answer because of the importance of this case.

In theory, one or all of them might be charged for false communication of a crime and for damaging private assets at the gas station. I'm not saying that they are charged right now because of that. We have to finalize the investigation and, in theory, that could be the case. This is not really affect that -- this kind of crime will not lead to their arrest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible Question)

VELOSO: One of the athletes, Jim Feigen. Yeah.

[15:20:04] With regards to Jim Fiegan, we are already been -- Brazilian Bar Association touch base with us. One of the members of Brazilian Bar Association, attorney Breno (ph) is trying to bring him to the police. But, this has not occurred yet. The security guard that showed the weapon, he was a security guard of

the gas station? Is this weapon registered? With regards to the identity of the security guards, one of the requests that they made because of afraid of any kind of retaliation. They ask their identity, the preserve. And we promise that to them.

So their situation is really normal, regular. They are not doing anything wrong. But they ask us to maintain their identity in privacy. But I'm not going to share this without -- no. The weapon is legal. It is a legal weapon.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible Question)

VELOSO: Ryan, the athlete. Ryan. Ryan Lochte. He was the one that was really the one that was more -- physically outwardly. He was more angry or nervous or in this way. This what we heard from one of the security guards. Yeah. We're going to confirm. We're going to confirm the identity of the athletes.

One of them -- I don't know which one it was -- said the extreme attitudes that are occurring the gas station to Ryan. One of the security guys said was Ryan. He was very angry because he was intoxicated. He was under the influence of any alcoholic beverage. He was probably drunk. Alcoholic beverage.

UNIDENITIFIED FEMALE (through translation): So you can say that this is all taking place because of Ryan Lochte? So he would be the one responsible?

VELOSO (though translation): No, no, we cannot say that he was the only one responsible. This will be a very premature presumption of guilt.

UNIDENITIFIED FEMALE (through translation): I'm from CNN. I'd like to hear your question.

(OFF-MIC)

VELOSO (though translation): Well, we -- it was not -- days. I have to, you know, explain to you exactly what happened. The Olympic Games are taking place in Rio. So the regular police activities continues. So it means that our police departments, they are on. We have a huge demand also because of the Olympic Games. So that's all of this occur in a very seamless way, we have an integrations between our local, state and federal law enforcement.

For the Olympic Games takes place in the central command and control. All the entities and institutions are taking place. So this general coordination which is done by a ministry of justice, department at the ministry of justice. This was done also through other channels, also through the American consulate, the representatives of the American consulate in Rio. They are here. We also told them if they want to be part of our press conference. They said no. But they are here. They are following what's going.

So the moment that we send this notification, we're only days. So they were notified. Well, we need to give them -- to give them a certain time. It was not only days that took place.

[15:25:02] When we realized that they were boarding and leaving the country, and then we realized that we are not willing to cooperate with the investigation. There was no access in our legal measures, all of them were legal proceedings and procedures. And I also need to mention -- charges from Rio and they agreed when we realized. Well, this is a demonstration, clear demonstration, that they want to collaborate with the investigation. They are boarding the plane. So we -- this judge signed -- he signed a search and seizures warrant.

You're not going to ask your question? OK. So now another gentleman is going to ask the question.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (though translation): The attorney of Ryan Lochte said it was really over exaggeration. He said it was creating a circus here.

VELOSO (though translation): Yeah, you see no clown on my face right now? That would be my answer to his attorney. No, here we don't have anyone here with a nose clown. This is not a circus. Sorry, my answer is not to you, but I think that what this attorney is saying deserves that kind of answer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (though translation): Whose idea do you think was to create or this version? Do you think Ryan Lochte will be heard in the United States?

VELOSO (though translation): Yes, FBI is following the investigation here in Brazil. We are already defining or implementing this cooperation so that Ryan Lochte could be heard in United States. What we have to do, Brazilian judge will agree with this regulatory ladder so that the FBI has already agreed to notify Ryan Lochte to be heard.

So I cannot say whether the judge will agree with this or not. They -- the security guards and everybody, they are really saying that Ryan Lochte was the one kind of responsible. But this is still, in theory, we can't confirm that.

Good question. Good question. The two athletes are being heard right now. We wanted them to collaborate in the investigation, and I think that we can say that I don't see any reason why to maintain them here in Brazil since they have agreed to collaborate with investigation.

And the first one of them, he narrates a version that it's in alignment with our evidence, the testimonies, the witnesses and as well as the surveillance video images. So we will tell the judge in charge that he did collaborate with the investigation. So it's not really the police that can say that he needs to stay or go back to United States. It's actually the judge. The three of them.

(OFF-MIC)

VELOSO (though translation): Regards to the excuses, I think we are dealing with important people. Yeah, they are public people that might influence other people. And people who can have this potential influence on other people, they have to follow some kind of behavior that at least should be proper. But they are people. They can make mistakes. Because probably they were under alcoholic beverage or anything like this. And the excuses that they need to provide the apologies in a way is not to the police but really to the, you know, to the city of Rio de Janeiro.