Ryan Lochte back in U.S. as Rio judge orders swimmers’ passports seized
ASSOCIATED PRESS
United States’ Ryan Lochte checked his time in a men’s 4x200-meter freestyle heat during the Aug. 9 swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Lochte and three other American swimmers were robbed at gunpoint early Sunday by thieves posing as police officers who stopped their taxi and took their money and belongings, the U.S. Olympic Committee said.
RIO DE JANEIRO » The father of American swimmer Ryan Lochte said today his gold medal-winning son arrived back in the United States before a Brazilian judge ordered that Lochte and U.S. teammate Jimmy Feigen stay in Brazil as authorities investigate their claim they were robbed during the Olympics.
Steve Lochte told The Associated Press by phone from his Florida home that his son called him Tuesday after arriving in the United States. The 32-year-old swimmer was going to pick up his car and buy a new wallet to replace the one that he said was stolen in the robbery.
“I’m just happy he’s safe,” the elder Lochte said. “It was an unfortunate experience for him and the other three. I don’t know what all the controversy is. They were basically taken out of the taxi and robbed. The main thing is he’s very lucky that he’s safe and that all they got was his cash and wallet.”
The elder Lochte said his son’s Olympic credential and cell phone weren’t taken during the incident early Sunday morning. He said he was sure Ryan had his passport or he would not have been allowed to board a plane.
Feigen’s whereabouts could not immediately be confirmed, though he told the San Antonio Express-News he was still in Brazil.
The office of Judge Keyla Blank confirmed the order to seize the passports of Lochte and Feigen in a statement today.
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The U.S. Olympic Committee said police went to the athletes village this morning to try to collect the passports, but the swim team had already moved out.
“We will continue to cooperate with Brazilian authorities,” spokesman Patrick Sandusky said.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement today encouraging those involved to cooperate with Brazilian law enforcement.
A USA Swimming spokesman and Lochte’s attorney, Jeff Ostrow, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Lochte and three of his teammates said they were robbed at gunpoint in a taxi Sunday morning as they returned to the athletes village from a party, several hours after the last Olympic swimming events were held.
Police have found little evidence so far to support their accounts, and say the swimmers were unable to provide key details in police interviews.
“Why would anybody fabricate anything?” Steve Lochte said. “It’s just ridiculous.”
A police official with knowledge of the investigation told the AP that police cannot find their taxi driver or witnesses. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.
Ostrow has said there is no question the robbery occurred.
Traveling with Lochte and 26-year-old Feigen were 21-year-old Gunnar Bentz and 20-year-old Jack Conger. Lochte swam in two events at the Rio Games, winning gold in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. He is a 12-time Olympic medalist.
Bentz’ father, Steve Bentz, declined comment when reached by the AP.
The group did not call police, authorities said, and officers began investigating once they saw media reports in which Lochte’s mother spoke about the robbery. Police interviewed Lochte and one other swimmer, who said they had been intoxicated and could not remember what type and color of taxi they rode in or where the robbery happened, the police official said. The swimmers also could not say what time the events occurred.
Later in the day, Lochte described the incident to NBC’s “Today” show.
“We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over,” Lochte said. “They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn’t do anything wrong, so — I’m not getting down on the ground.
“And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, ‘Get down,’ and I put my hands up, I was like ‘whatever.’ He took our money, he took my wallet — he left my cellphone, he left my credentials.”
Word of the robbery initially created confusion between Olympic and U.S. officials. An International Olympic Committee spokesman at first said reports of the robbery were “absolutely not true,” then reversed himself, apologized and said he was relying on initial information from the USOC that was wrong.
Lochte told USA Today that he and his teammates didn’t initially tell the U.S. Olympic officials about the robbery “because we were afraid we’d get in trouble.”
34 responses to “Ryan Lochte back in U.S. as Rio judge orders swimmers’ passports seized”
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This is bizarre.
Why is he being penalized for reporting a robbery? He was the victim after all! Sounds like Brazil is trying to suppress bad publicity.
I think so. The Brazilian government has a lot to hide.
You believe them when they say the water is clean and safe don’t you Allie?
He is not being penalized. The confusion is because “The group did not call police, authorities said, and officers began investigating once they saw media reports in which Lochte’s mother spoke about the robbery”.
You gotta admit that this story is strange. What I find hard to believe is the robbers not taking his cellphone, which has to have significant value in Rio. I also don’t see what Lochte has to gain from this. On the other hand I also think it’s in Rio’s best interest to make this seem like a hoax. Countries/cities host Olympic Games for the positive publicity to help direct outside investments to themselves. This news doesn’t help. It’s doubtful that this will ever be resolved.
Brazilian judges making sure there are no more complaints!
He didn’t report it, that is part of the problem.
We should give Brazil the benefit of the doubt — until all the facts are known. The authorities felt something was amiss in this case and moved to detain the alleged victims to further investigate the case. The fact that the victims fled raises questions that need to be answered.
Not so much. If I’m in a foreign country and it’s government want’s my passport so that I can’t leave just because I reported a crime against myself I’m out of there ASAP! Great move on Brazil’s part to stop visitors from reporting crimes.
Looks like these cops knew that Lochte would need his visa to go home.
They were looking for just cash and credit cards they could sell. Rather than jewelry and watches that could be traced back to the thieves.
The taxi driver is in cahoots.
Kimo, your comment parallel mine.
Something seems fishy. None of the four victims notified anyone of the incident. The Brazilian police only found out through the media after Lochte’s mother mentioned it to them. Lochte claims they didn’t tell US Olympic Officials because they were afraid of getting into trouble. If you’re the victim and wasn’t doing anything wrong, why would you be afraid to tell the authorities. Add that to the lack of evidence, creates questions in my mind as to whether or not the incident actually happened. Like Kimo said, we should give Brazil the benefit of doubt until all the facts are known.
I agree. I’m surprised he was so nonchalant when a gun was pointed at his forehead and he just held up his hands thinking ‘whatever’. Even though he might have been drunk, he was drunk enough to think he wasn’t going to comply with the request since he didn’t do anything. Also, if he had a round trip ticket, did he leave as scheduled or did he leave earlier because of the incident?
It’s not Mexico I know – but I had friends in Mexico who were rear-ended while driving, thrown in jail, and their parents had to pay a bribe to get them out. Same kind of legal system.
cholo doubts he’d want to go back there anyways.
Probably cops posing as criminals…
One must wonder if they were even in a legitimate taxi, and/or if the swimmers were set-up by the taxi driver with the “police” as willing collaborators.
probably right. it’s a normal occurrence for police to stop people and ask for money in 3rd world countries
You are so right. Taxi packed with victims. Can hear them speaking English so drops his left hand out the door and signals with three open hands. Pulls out and drives into a dark alley. Cop crime wave. This is how cops and drivers supplement their meager paychecks. N country.
Ahhhhh. Another Robert Allenby accusation.
Denial seems to be the reflexive response in Brazil — as if the whole world didn’t know that serious crimes like this are a daily affliction there.
I wouldn’t trust the Brazilian police or judges given the corruption in Brazil.
Ryan must feel lucky to get out of Brazil; enough of that third world country.
Who’s the victim here? Geez!
Lawless!
Hello, people slamming Brazil while living in a country which has 1/3 of the world’s mass shootings, with 253 people shot in mass shootings here LAST MONTH ALONE. They’re safer in Brazil, hello.
Your focus on one statistic is blinding you to the big picture. Check the murder rates.
hello
Can’t imagine why Brazil was chosen for the Olympics with all the problems there…..
Sounds like this may turn out to be another fabricated story similar to the golfer that was here for a golf tournament and claimed he got beat up and robbed (after he left the strip club). Does anyone else find it strange that the robbers only took the cash and left behind the wallet with the credentials which were needed to get back home. Me personally, if I was doing the robbery I’d take the whole darn wallet, leave the crime scene and THEN go through the wallet, take the cash and dump the wallet(with the credentials). Someone is not being truthful. Oh well, I guess the swimmers will claim “water on the brain” as their defense. But seriously, I hope I am wrong.
Why didn’t he and his friends call the cops? More than likely, they stiffed the hookers they were supposed to pay, they got chased down, and the enforcers took adequate compensation from them, and left them alive. The taxi driver probably suggested the good time entertainment to the 4 swimmers, so he is in cahoots.
they were drunk and he probably lost his wallet or left it where he shouldn’t have.
The more information I read.. the most suspicious of the American swimmers I become. It’s beginning to sound like a hoax which would be devastating to their future “business” potential.