PM denies curfew and increases patrols in northern zone of Ribeirão Preto
Two suspects were killed during a police operation on Via Norte. The police deny rumours of a curfew and announce increased presence with Tactical Force and aerial patrols.
Two suspects killed on Via Norte create tension in Ribeirão Preto neighbourhoods
Lieutenant-Colonel Luiz Ulian Junqueira of the Military Police of Ribeirão Preto (SP) dismissed any "curfew" in the northern zone of the city on Wednesday (21) following the deaths of two men during a police operation on Avenida Eduardo Andrea Matarazzo, Via Norte. According to g1.globo.com, Junqueira confirmed, however, that teams will increase patrols in strategic areas and bus corridors in the region.
"The intention of the Military Police is that control of the territory remains with the Military Police," the lieutenant-colonel said during a press conference early in the evening.
Businesses closed their doors; authorities deny any direction
Threats of retaliation published on social networks by criminals led residents of the Quintino Facci and Adelino Simioni neighbourhoods to collect their children from school earlier in the afternoon. Commercial establishments on Avenida Magid Simão Trad, in Adelino Simioni, also closed their doors. According to reporting by EPTV, an affiliate of TV Globo.
Local authorities and business entities denied any formal direction for the cessation of activities. Lieutenant-Colonel Junqueira described reports of a "curfew" as rumours.
"We have no information whatsoever about a curfew. What happens is this blessed herd mentality. Sometimes a person's fear starts and they begin to share it with another, another, without certainty about the information they are receiving," Junqueira said.
Operation ended with two deaths and four firearms seized
The deceased were identified as Vinicius de Jesus, 32 years old, and Alexsandro Calisto Gomes, 40 years old. According to the police, a team from the 11th Battalion of Special Police Actions (Baep) was conducting overt patrols in the region when they encountered a grey HB20.
"They came across a vehicle and inside, within that vehicle, two individuals with four firearms, two submachine guns and two more pistols. At the moment of the stop, there was a mention of the drawing of a firearm by the offenders, the Baep team responded and there was a confrontation and an exchange of gunfire," Junqueira explained.
The two suspects were shot, did not survive their injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. No military police officer was injured during the confrontation. The incident was recorded at the Central Police Judiciary (CPJ).
Family and lawyer question the circumstances of the operation
A lawyer present at the scene representing the families of the suspects informed that she would follow the case, but that she had not yet had access to official information. A sister of Vinicius disputed the circumstances of the police operation.
The lieutenant-colonel informed that any background of the victims would be included in the Military Police Inquiry (IPM) and in investigations by the Civil Police, and that the tactical team acted in the face of an immediate threat posed by the firearms found in the vehicle.
Contingency plan with Tactical Force and aerial patrol
Given the climate of apprehension in the Adelino Simioni and Quintino Facci neighbourhoods, the Military Police command guaranteed operating at maximum capacity to ensure public order in the northern zone and throughout the city. The force held emergency meetings with commanders in the region and structured a policing plan on the main transit corridors.
The contingency plan calls for reinforcement of the Tactical Force during strategic times and continuous aerial patrols.
"We treat any information that reaches the command as if it were true in order to mitigate risks. Our response will be with the massive deployment of Tactical Force personnel, military police officers to protect the entire region, the corridors, the bus stops, to prevent any incident from occurring," Junqueira concluded.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo