Man detained for harassing US ambassador in Santiago
A 51-year-old man was apprehended in Lo Barnechea after making hostile calls against Brandon Judd and his family. He also displayed aggressive messages on digital platforms.
Man detained for harassing US ambassador in Santiago
A 51-year-old man faces charges for harassing the United States diplomatic representative in Chile, Brandon Judd, following a series of telephone communications in which he allegedly made intimidatory warnings against the official and his relatives. The case was presented to the courts by the Eastern Public Prosecutor's Office, which secured the imposition of severe restrictions against the accused.
The apprehension took place on Wednesday at the suspect's home, located in the municipality of Lo Barnechea. At that location, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the Police of Investigations were conducting a search operation ordered by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Las Condes. The purpose of the operation was to seize electronic devices—computers and mobile phones—presumed to have been used to carry out the intimidation.
During the operation, officers found a blank-firing gun in the resident's possession, which resulted in his immediate arrest. There was no prior arrest warrant against him, given that the evidence gathered until that time was insufficient to justify one; however, it was adequate to authorise the search of his home.
The prosecutor in charge, Rodrigo Varela, clarified that the accused maintained active profiles on TikTok and Instagram where he disseminated threatening content directed at various state institutions. Some of that audiovisual material showed the subject himself during the telephone conversations with the North American diplomatic headquarters.
The court ordered him to be held under custody at his home, with a prohibition from leaving the country and from approaching the US embassy and the property where the ambassador resides. He was also prohibited from possessing any type of firearm. The investigation has a period of three months to continue developing.
Information published by La Tercera
Source: Google News CL — Crime