Man arrested in Asunción on suspicion of machete robberies targeting teenager and woman
Miguel Benítez Rodríguez (32) was arrested by officers of the 2nd Metropolitan Police Station. He is the primary suspect in two machete assaults captured on camera.
Arrest in Asunción for machete assaults recorded on camera
Miguel Benítez Rodríguez, aged 32, was detained by officers of the 2nd Metropolitan Police Station following an investigation into two violent machete robberies in the Paraguayan capital, according to ultimahora.com.
During the operations, investigators also seized a grey Hyundai HB20 vehicle that had been identified in security footage from both cases.
The first incident occurred at around 12:30 on a Tuesday at the corner of O'Leary and 5th Avenue streets in the Tacumbú neighbourhood. According to security cameras, two occupants of the grey vehicle got out and stole a mobile telephone from a 15-year-old teenager walking along the street. One of the assailants struck the teenager in the face with a machete before fleeing.
The same vehicle was reportedly involved in a second similar incident in the capital. The victim was Giselle Giménez, who was intercepted a few blocks from her home by a man who threatened her with a machete to rob her telephone.
Following his detention, Benítez admitted to having taken part in the assault on the teenager, though he denied responsibility in the remaining cases. He stated that he drove the vehicle with two other people and claimed to have done so against his will, under the influence of drugs.
"I want to apologise, I can tell you that the boy's father is my personal friend. I hope he understands that it was not my intention or full will to commit that act. I feel sorry for what happened," Benítez said in communication with NPY channel, adding that he was unaware that the victim was his friend's son.
Police Commissioner Hugo Grance, one of the investigators in charge of the case, stated that the detainee would have taken the vehicle from his mother, a retired woman, and then picked up two other men to commit the robberies.
The teenager's father also spoke to NPY and admitted that Benítez's arrest came as a "bucket of cold water", recognising him as someone from the neighbourhood, although he clarified that he had not been in contact with him for at least six years. He confirmed that his son was in good health following the attack.
Source: Google News PY — Asunción