This story was originally started here: USA Olympic Swim Team Robbed At Gunpoint. Here I was downgrading Brazil only to see that at least one member of the alleged victims was in fact the ones committing the crime according to the Brazilians. What really happened?
There was no robbery in Rio de Janeiro as alleged by US Olympic swimmers, Civil Police Chief Fernando Veloso says.
According to Brazilian police, one of the swimmers confirmed what was seen in surveillance video: that the Olympians -- Ryan Lochte, Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and James Feigen -- were committing acts of vandalism at a gas station when confronted by security guards.
A security guard pointed a gun at the swimmers, but it was not an excessive use of force, Veloso said. Lochte was confrontational with security guards and "Very angry because he was intoxicated," Veloso said. The swimmers offered payment for the damage while at the scene.
One or all of the swimmers could potentially be charged for “false communication of a crime and for damaging private assets,” but they are unlikely to be arrested, Veloso said. He suggested they should apologize to residents. Ref. USAToday.
US swimmer Ryan Lochte apologized Friday for his behavior on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro and how he described events.
He and three other American swimmers were seen on video at a gas station apparently vandalizing the place.
"I wanted to apologize for my behavior last weekend -- for not bring more careful and candid in how I described the events of that early morning and for my role in taking the focus away from the many athletes fulfilling their dreams of participating in the Olympics," he said on Instagram.
Earlier Friday, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes said he felt "Pity and contempt" for the US Olympic swimmers involved in muddled reports of a robbery. Ref. CNN.
USOC, USA Swimming announce sanctions for four U.S. Swimmers involved in gas station incident at Olympics
Ryan Lochte has agreed to serve a 10-month suspension. Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen will be suspended from domestic and international USA Swimming national team competitions for four months. Ref. USAToday.