Civil police officer arrested over kidnapping with fake patrol vehicle in East São Paulo
Rafael Juergen Schult was detained by the Police Inspectorate after being identified on camera assaulting and kidnapping a victim who was placed in the car boot. The victim remains missing.
Civil police investigator held over kidnapping in car posing as unmarked patrol vehicle in Artur Alvim
The São Paulo Civil Police Inspectorate arrested on Thursday (24th) investigator Rafael Juergen Schult, suspected of taking part in the assault and kidnapping of a man in the East Zone of São Paulo, as reported by g1.globo.com. The victim was handcuffed and placed in the boot of a car that simulated an unmarked police patrol vehicle — and remains missing.
Schult arrived at the Inspectorate headquarters accompanied by lawyers, where a temporary arrest order determined by the judiciary was carried out. "The detainee will be transferred to the Civil Police Prison and will remain at the disposal of the judiciary for a custody hearing. Investigations continue under secrecy ordered by the judiciary," stated the Public Security Secretariat (SSP).
The investigator had already been identified by security cameras as one of those involved in the operation. In August, Inspectorate teams carried out a search and seizure warrant at his residence, but he was not at the address. During the investigation, officers located the black car used by the group. At the home of Rafael's parents, counterfeit banknotes and cash were found which, according to investigations, would possibly be used for purchasing drugs.
Second police officer arrested and two at large
On 22 August, the Inspectorate had arrested civil police officer Milton Massaru Nakayama. At his residence, agents seized a red Corsa private vehicle equipped with lights and sirens similar to those of an unmarked patrol vehicle. Investigators are still assessing whether the vehicle was used on the night of the kidnapping.
In addition to Nakayama and Rafael, the judiciary ordered the arrest of Gustavo Schultz, the brother of investigator Rafael, and a man identified as a police informant. The two had not been located by the time this report was completed.
The attack recorded by cameras
The crime occurred in the early hours of August on a side street off Rua Inês Monteiro, in Artur Alvim. Three surveillance cameras recorded the entire sequence of events.
The images show that, at around 22:20, a group of six men were talking leaning against a wall. Minutes later, a young man in a blue shirt was attacked unexpectedly by two armed men. According to police, there was a physical struggle and shots were fired during the fight.
At 22:23, a black car stopped at the location. The vehicle displayed lights similar to a rotating beacon on the windscreen and grille, imitating a police patrol vehicle. The driver got out and also began assaulting the victim.
Next, two other men approached wearing black clothing and carrying objects similar to badges. One of them was carrying an assault rifle. The young man was handcuffed and pushed into the boot. Part of the group fled in the vehicle; one of those involved left the scene on foot.
No operation was planned for the region
When Military Police arrived at the address, they found bloodstains and empty ammunition casings of 5.56 calibre, used in rifles. A mobile phone was also seized at the scene.
The Civil Police confirmed that no operation was scheduled for that region that night. Those involved also did not request police support to preserve the scene, a standard procedure required in legitimate approaches.
The registration plate of the vehicle used was identified, but does not appear in any record — not even as belonging to an official patrol vehicle. Police also searched for the victim in hospitals in the region, without locating any injured man admitted to health units.
The SSP stated, in an earlier note, that all circumstances of the case are being investigated and that investigations continue to identify those remaining involved, locate the victim and clarify the crime. The defence of the investigators stated previously to TV Globo that the facts would be clarified, without informing whether Rafael intended to turn himself in.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo