Vasco da Gama denounces unfair arrest of athlete accused of stealing cell phone

A 14-year-old black teenager, who is an athlete at Vasco da Gama's rowing base, was arrested by the Rio de Janeiro Military Police last Monday (15) and accused of stealing a cell phone device. The case came to light after a complaint from Vasco, who was contacted by the athlete's mother and issued a statement stating that the arrest was unfair.

Vasco's rowing athletes practice the sport in Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, in the south zone, and the teenager was returning from training to his home, in Morro do Tuiutí, in the north zone. He was removed from the bus by military police officers and taken to the police station.

“A police report was registered classifying the young man, who is black, as a 'teenage offender', accused of stealing a cell phone device,” says the club's official statement on its social networks. “The fact that the young man presented himself as a Vasco da Gama athlete and showed a club document was disregarded. The police authority did not contact Vasco da Gama.”

“In light of this very serious case, CRVG informs that it has activated its legal department to act on behalf of its young rower seeking the indispensable reparation for the injustice committed”, adds Vasco. “Vasco da Gama will not allow its athlete’s name to be tarnished and is giving its full support to his family.”

The Public Defender's Office of the State of Rio de Janeiro was also contacted by the athlete's family and is handling the case, according to the agency's press office. The first service is scheduled for the next few days.

When contacted, the press office of the State Secretariat of Military Police confirmed that police officers detained the teenager last Monday night (15). Military police officers (PMs) were reportedly called to respond to a theft incident on Avenida Presidente Vargas, in the center of Rio de Janeiro.

“According to the command of the unit, the agents were called by the victims of the incident, who reported to the military that the suspects of the criminal action were on board a bus on Line 472 (which travels between the south zone and the north zone of Rio). During the action, four minors were approached by police officers. With the group, the agents located two cell phone devices”, reports the PM.

According to the Military Police, the phones were returned to the victims. Despite this, one of them accompanied the team to the police unit, where she did not recognize those involved as perpetrators of the theft. The teenagers were taken to the 4th Police Station (Praça da República), where the incident was recorded and, later, they were all released.

“The command of the 5th BPM [Batalhão da Polícia Militar] initiated an investigative procedure to analyze the conduct of the police officers. It is worth noting that the corporation does not condone any deviations or any type of discriminatory act committed by military police officers”, says the PM’s note.