Rio Police: ‘No Robbery Against’ American Swimmers, Lochte

Rio Police: ‘No Robbery Against’ American Swimmers, Lochte
American Olympic swimmers Gunnar Bentz, center left, and Jack Conger, center right, leave the police station at Rio International airport early Thursday Aug. 18, 2016. The two were taken off their flight from Brazil to the U.S. on Wednesday by local authorities amid an investigation into a reported robbery targeting Ryan Lochte and his teammates. According to their lawyer they will not be allowed to leave Brazil until they provide testimony about the robbery. AP Photo/Mauro Pimentel
Jack Phillips
Updated:

Police in Rio said that Ryan Lochte and three other American Olympic swimmers weren’t robbed—as was claimed by Lochte earlier this week.

Instead, the four Americans vandalized a gas station after leaving a party on Sunday morning, Brazilian police said in a press conference on Thursday.

Police said that “one or all” of the swimmers—Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz, James Feigen, and Lochte—broke bathroom mirrors and damaged items inside the bathroom, police said. They initially refused to stay but security asked the taxi not to leave.

“There was actually no robbery against the athletes,” the chief of Civil Police said in the press conference. “A statement by the taxi driver and surveillance video show that there was no physical or verbal violence against [the athletes] that could lead them to interpret there was a robbery. Their claim that they were a victim of an assault or robbery is not true.”

The athletes left money—around 100 Brazilian real and $20—to compensate for the damages, police said. A witness apparently saw the entire incident unfold, police said.

Journalists surround American Olympic swimmers Gunnar Bentz (L) and Jack Conger  (C) as they leave the police station at Rio International airport on Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Mauro Pimentel)
Journalists surround American Olympic swimmers Gunnar Bentz (L) and Jack Conger  (C) as they leave the police station at Rio International airport on Aug. 18, 2016. AP Photo/Mauro Pimentel

The police testimony, combined with images shot at a Rio gas station broadcast by Brazilian network Globo, seemingly undermine what Lochte and his teammates said.

Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter who covers a range of topics, including politics, U.S., and health news. A father of two, Jack grew up in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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