UPDATED: BREAKING: Report Says Lochte Fabricated Robbery Story, Fought With Security at Gas Station

[DonViejo]

Last edited Thu Aug 18, 2016, 12:02 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Mediaite

Matt Gutman of ABC is reporting that Brazilian sources say that Ryan Lochte and his three US Swimming teammates fabricated the claim that they were robbed. Gutman reports that there is video of Lochte fighting with security at a Rio gas station.

-snip-

This latest development follows last night’s dramatic scene in which two of Lochte’s teammates, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were pulled off a US-bound flight in Rio by Brazilian authorities. Bentz, Conger, and Jimmy Feigen are all scheduled to meet with police today, according to an Associated Press report.

Lochte is already back in the US. Wednesday night, he had a phone conversation with NBC’s Matt Lauer in which he stood behind his claim that he and his teammates were robber, but seemed to change a few details of his story.

UPDATE 10:58 a.m. — ABC is reporting that a Brazilian police source claims: “one of the swimmers was seen on CCTV footage breaking down the door to the bathroom at the gas station and fighting with a security guard.”

-snip-

Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/online/breaking-report-says-lochte-fabricated-robbery-story-fought-with-security-at-gas-station/

---

UPDATE:

Four U.S. swimmers were not robbed, Brazilian officials said, but instead made up the incident after damaging a gas station door

Thursday, August 18, 2016 11:45 AM EDT

The American swimmers who claimed that they were assaulted at gunpoint over the weekend by assailants posing as police officers fabricated their account of the episode, according to Brazilian investigators.

Using video footage and testimony from witnesses, Brazilian police have determined that the incident involved damage to a bathroom door at a gas station where the swimmers stopped in the early hours of Sunday on the way back from a party to the Athletes’ Village.

“Unfortunately, the swimmers told one lie after another,” said a Brazilian police official who had reviewed the video images.

Read more »

[RandySF]

1. And yet Gabbie is Twitter's favorite target.

[NWCorona]

49. And we both know why that is.

[Uponthegears]

132. Yep

[Blue_Tires]

79. +1

[Botany]

2. Sounds like they were out drinking and got into a fight and made up a story to cover their asses,

n/t

[kevink077]

38. Cover up way worse than crime

All over a damaged door?

[DinahMoeHum]

44. You'd expect this behavior with drunken frat boys. . .

. . .not Olympic athletes, when the eyes of the world are on you.

[leftynyc]

48. Too much alcohol makes everyone stupid

not just frat boys.

[kevink077]

58. Or drunk sorority girls?

Women do bad things too....

[happydaze]

105. Have you ever met swimmers? They are like frat boys

[lakercub]

122. Every interview and article about Lochte

shows him to be even more frat boy than most (and he's in his 30's...pretty weak). The articles always have a slant towards showing his marketability but you don't exactly have to read between the lines to see his growth has been stunted for a long time. When his swimming career is over I hope, for his sake, he learns to be an adult.

[yeoman6987]

128. I hope so to because most likely he'll be a swim coach for kids

He'll need to be an adult doing that.

[ronnie624]

144. I'm highly skeptical.

He'll likely be exactly what he is now, for the rest of his life. The last thing succeeding generations of boys need now, at this point in our history, are clueless, hyper-masculine role models.

[lapucelle]

3. I just heard on MSNBC that the only reason the press

found out about the robbery story was because Lochte's mother told them.

Was the robbery tale a cover story they told to Lochte's mom, so he wouldn't get in trouble with her?

[jcgoldie]

7. That's my theory

But once it went to the press he should have just come clean.

[bighart]

50. He's in his 30's

for crying out loud, born August 3, 1984.
If he did make it up to not get in trouble with mom what does that say about him.

[lapucelle]

83. Please don't tell my mom!

[Friend or Foe]

4. It's stories like these that prove

That multimillionaire athletes need more tax breaks

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Don't get me started

on the athlete class

[brush]

64. Doubt if he's a millionaire. Phelps probably is but not him, runner-ups don't get the spoils.

[mainstreetonce]

81. He has done promos and ads

and roles on TV shows. He has a public career .

[brush]

86. That's probably over now.

[yeoman6987]

130. I doubt it. Americans are pretty forgiving especially for minor errors

Look at robert downing Jr. He'd be admonished if Americans were mean. He's totally forgiven.

[MynameisBlarney]

5. I knew there was something they were covering for

Had to be something stupid.

[Ace Rothstein]

16. I figured drugs or prostitution.

Turns out it was drunken doucehebagery.

[MynameisBlarney]

18. I was thinkin they stiffed a hooker (no pun intended)

But yeah, it seems you're right.

They are merely asshole jocks that can't handle their liquor.

[Blue_Tires]

80. +1

I thought they got ripped off by a pimp/sex worker/drug dealer, or some combination thereof

[jberryhill]

6. Knox Knox

Who's There?

Amanda.

Amanda who?

Amanda get drunk and vandalize a gas station.

[xocet]

106. It is not clear how your post is supposed to be either funny or relevant. n/t

[narnian60]

120. +1

[jberryhill]

123. Sorry boss, I'll do better next time

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. Ruh-roh, Shaggy!

[BumRushDaShow]

14. I will join you

Got the jumbo size.

[Initech]

31. And he would have got away with it if it wasn't for those meddling kids!

[exboyfil]

9. There goes his endorsement deals

[TexasBushwhacker]

15. My thought exactly

He'll have to get a real job like the rest of us schmucks.

[LynneSin]

17. Phelps has been busted for smoking dope and a DUI

yet he still gets endorsements.

Now if those were women or minorities that did what Phelps or Lockte had done - then oh boy we'll make sure those people never hear the end of it and we do everything to make them look bad. Perfect example - Gabby Douglas not holding her hand over her heart.

[Deuce]

23. I agree...

[roamer65]

67. 100 pct correct.

[still_one]

11. If this is true, they should be at a minimum banned from participating in future Olympics

[jtuck004]

12. Can you lose your medals for committing a crime when we send you abroad to represent the US? n/t

[Travis_0004]

127. No

Hope solo assaulted somebody, and she still was allowed to enter the olympics.

Loche will still be eligible next Olympics, although I imagine he might be to old to compete anyway.

[jtuck004]

129. Yeah, they probably won't let you train in Brazilian jails anyway. He tried that shit here it

would be a felony in some situations.

I wouldn't be surprised if we have or had Brazilians incarcerated in the U.S. for lying to a federal or other official.

He might need to go back, based on what is coming out.

[Hoyt]

13. Disgusting. Sounds like something a Trump supporter might do.

[RAFisher]

19. Is Lochte now fugitive in Brazil? If he ever goes back to Brazil I assume he'd be arrested.

When I was at the University of Florida and had friends on the swim team. From what I gathered Lochte was a huge partier. So this don't seem that unsurprising he'd do this.

This story is getting so entertaining. Not enough popcorn in the world for this.

[vkkv]

20. Face it, there are major A-HOLES in every cross-section of society.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

21. There's the jocks that I remember from high school! n/t

[DonViejo]

22. Ha! Me too! In Lakewood, Ohio, no less. Maybe it's something in the water...

Ohio's high school jocks drink.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

25. At my high school, it might have been related to the jocks...

1. Being invited to more parties.
2. The parties provided lots of alcohol.
3. The alcohol made them nuts.

[SunSeeker]

24. So the swimmers caused damage to a gas station and paid for it in cash.

Arrest them! Seize their passports! Force them to stay in the country!

Overreact much?


I bet no athlete will report a crime until they are the fuck out of Brazil.

[stopbush]

27. Er, the only crime committed here was by the US athletes.

[SunSeeker]

29. What crime did the two athletes arrested commit?

They sure haven't been charged with a crime.

[Tempest]

32. The investigation is still going on

However, they lied to police. Which is a crime in Brazil just like it's a crime here.

[SunSeeker]

43. They have not been charged with anything.

Since when do you arrest first and decide why later?

[Ace Rothstein]

65. Have they been arrested?

I haven't seen a legit source saying the guys pulled off the plane were arrested.

[stopbush]

36. Not for us to decide.

My point is that you said that prosecuting these men would deter other athletes from reporting a crime committed against them. There was no crime committed against these athletes. It was they who committed a crime (TBD), not any Brazilian assailants.

Perhaps this incident will give athletes pause in the future before they concoct an easily disproved lie to explain away their own behavior. That would be a good thing.

[SunSeeker]

41. What crime have the two detained committed?

Since when do you get to detain people based on charges "TBD"? Don't you think that is a human rights violation?

[Tempest]

46. Oh, for the love of Pete

There's evidence they committed a crime by lying to police. That will get you detained here as well as there.

Apparently you're unaware of the recent case of a black man who was held for more than 500 days without charges.

[SunSeeker]

54. So you are fine with people being detained without charges?

[LynneSin]

68. So you wouldn't mind if I came into your home and pissed on the walls?

That is a crime you know along with lying to the police.

[SunSeeker]

76. Are these two being charged with pissing on anyone's walls?

And if so, is that a crime worth arrest and indefinite detention?

It appears these two guys are under arrest without charges until Brazilian authorities are satisfied that they have made sufficiently contrite statements contradicting Lochte so as to clear any damage Lochte did to Brazil's spotless reputation.

[LynneSin]

92. And what country is this occuring?

Maybe people should think twice before they make drunken fools of themselves overseas.

And sorry, after all the shit our country gave Gabby Douglas I'm not about to watch everyone bend over backwards to protect the white guys. It seems there aren't any other Olympians anywhere dealing with the police - perhaps all the other athletes know better than to act like douchebags during the Olympics.

[Tempest]

71. Now you're just being ridiculous

People are detained all the time without charges when there is material evidence they are guilty of the crime. And guess what. The swimmers ADMITTED THEY LIED TO POLICE.

-----------
Two of the swimmers involved in the incident, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, were removed from a U.S.-bound flight on Wednesday night and detained by Brazilian officials. They told officials the story had been fabricated, the AP reported.

"“The three U.S. Olympic swimmers (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen) are cooperating with authorities and in the process of scheduling a time and place today to provide further statements to the Brazilian authorities,” Patrick Sandusky, a United States Olympic Committee spokesperson, said in a statement. “All are represented by counsel and being appropriately supported by the USOC and the U.S. Consulate in Rio.”
-----------

Give it up.

[SunSeeker]

77. These two have not been charged with lying to police.

Give it up indeed.

[neohippie]

90. Once again

Where did they admit that they lied to the police. They admitted to Officials the story had been fabricated, The story was told to one of the swimmers mother, the swimmers never filed any police report, so when did these lies to the police occur

You seem to insist that this happened, can you now backup your claim with proof?

[anneboleyn]

116. I agree. The hostility towards the athletes here is alarming. The Rio chief's story is ridiculous

and the cctv footage was EDITED.

[dkhbrit]

55. You don't get it do you?

People are detained all the time without being charged. You can be detained purely on suspicion of committing a crime. If you report a crime and your story doesn't add up, you will be brought back in and rightly so.

[SunSeeker]

56. Arrest without charges is a violation of human rights. nt

[stopbush]

61. In what country on earth is that true?

Your ignorance of the basics of the legal system are appalling.

[Tempest]

72. None, but he's in so deep he has no choice but to continue to dig

And here's the latest:

Two of the swimmers involved in the incident, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, were removed from a U.S.-bound flight on Wednesday night and detained by Brazilian officials. They told officials the story had been fabricated, the AP reported.

"“The three U.S. Olympic swimmers (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen) are cooperating with authorities and in the process of scheduling a time and place today to provide further statements to the Brazilian authorities,” Patrick Sandusky, a United States Olympic Committee spokesperson, said in a statement. “All are represented by counsel and being appropriately supported by the USOC and the U.S. Consulate in Rio.”

[LynneSin]

95. You don't get it - two white american men, we MUST protect them at all cost

If we want to rag on anyone then use the African American girl who *gasp* forgot to put her hand over her heart during the national anthem. It seems she is the one that committed the *REAL* crime



(BTW to the extreme. I'm just annoyed at how our women are being treated poorly during this Olympics with coverage and criticism!)

[Judi Lynn]

149. I heard someone mention hands over hearts are correct during the "Pledge of Allegence,"

as they are pledging something, and hands over hearts have never been appropriate during the National Anthem.

I didn't do any research to find out more, as it sounds sensible to me.

People wanting to attack this young woman over that are simply racists waiting for a chance to attack any black or brown person they could. So damned ugly these monsters have such loud nasty voices in our culture.

[Chemisse]

101. Here in the US, people can be detained for questioning, prior to being charged.

Up to 24 hours, I believe.

I don't know what it is in Brazil, but didn't they just get detained late yesterday?

[MyNameGoesHere]

97. Arrested? Overreact much?

[SunSeeker]

139. Overraction indeed. The police admitted today none of these offenses carry jail time.

None of these athletes even filed a police report. All they did was talk to the media, which was their real "crime" that caused the Brazilians to immediately commence a major investigation. They convinced a judge to order the swimmers' passports be confiscated and an international flight be stopped on the tarmac so two swimmers who were merely potentional witnesses could be detained until they forced statements out of them.

[Tempest]

30. They lied to the police

That's a crime in Brazil and could get them 3 years in jail. Just as it's a crime in the U.S.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

33. ^^^ This.

[SunSeeker]

35. No one has alleged these two lied to the police.

They have not been charged with a crime, yet their passports were seized and they are being detained in Brazil.

[Tempest]

37. You obviously haven't been following the story

Their passports were seized days ago to prevent them from leaving the country while the investigation was ongoing.

SOP in every country.

[stopbush]

39. All four of the athletes were interviewed by the police, no?

They all told the same lie, no?

[SunSeeker]

42. No one has charged them with a crime.

I have no idea what these two said to the police. Yet they are still being detained in Brazil.

[stopbush]

45. Bingo! You don't know what they said. None of us know the specifics.

What we do know in general is that their stories didn't mesh, and there's video of the altercation.

Just like the athletes, YOU seem intent on shifting the blame away from the athletes. Your statement that the actions of the police will serve to keep others from reporting ACTUAL crimes until they're "the fuck out of Brazil" is ass backwards thinking.

There was no crime committed AGAINST these athletes. They lied.

[Tempest]

47. +1 n/t

[oldtime dfl_er]

60. I agree more with SunSeeker

We don't have the facts. Maybe they lied. We don't know. Maybe there's more to the story. Maybe ...anything. But they need to either charge them or release them to come home. Yea, they got drunk and didn't handle themselves well. And yea, coverups are usually worse than the crimes. But it's my understanding they did not file a police report, so there's no crime there.

[stopbush]

62. The first thing that needs to happen is for the athletes to stop lying.

Lochte was able to leave Brazil before he had to tell the truth. The others weren't so lucky.

Once they fess up and the truth comes out, the Brazilian authorities will be able to determine if any laws were broken. They could decide that laws were broken but elect not to prosecute. The US athletes' lawyers could bargain any charges down to a lesser charge.

At the end if the day, what matters is the truth. This wouldn't even be a discussion had the athletes not lied.

[Tempest]

74. They've admitted to lying to police

Two of the swimmers involved in the incident, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, were removed from a U.S.-bound flight on Wednesday night and detained by Brazilian officials. They told officials the story had been fabricated, the AP reported.

"“The three U.S. Olympic swimmers (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen) are cooperating with authorities and in the process of scheduling a time and place today to provide further statements to the Brazilian authorities,” Patrick Sandusky, a United States Olympic Committee spokesperson, said in a statement. “All are represented by counsel and being appropriately supported by the USOC and the U.S. Consulate in Rio.”

[neohippie]

98. can you show me specifically where they admitted lying to the police

You seemed to be convinced this happened, I am not sure and am willing to persuaded that it's possible, but with everything that I have seen or read about this, incident, I never recalled seeing statements that indicated these swimmers ever lied directly to the police. Please do your best to convince us that you are correct

[Tempest]

111. Apparently you're completely ignorant on how a police investigation is conducted

Police Investigation 101: Interview the victims early in the investigation while memories are fresh.

[jberryhill]

124. Additionally, under this type of legal system

The police report initial findings to a judge, and the judge directs further investigation.

[onenote]

63. They publicly stated a crime occurred

The police attempted to investigate that alleged crime. All four were material witnesses. They don't get to pack up and leave the jurisdiction while the police are trying to investigate.

This isn't remotely a close call.

[Tempest]

73. Except we do have the facts

They've been reporting on them since early this morning.

And now the truth has come out. They admitted to lying to police about what happened.

-------------

Two of the swimmers involved in the incident, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, were removed from a U.S.-bound flight on Wednesday night and detained by Brazilian officials. They told officials the story had been fabricated, the AP reported.

"“The three U.S. Olympic swimmers (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen) are cooperating with authorities and in the process of scheduling a time and place today to provide further statements to the Brazilian authorities,” Patrick Sandusky, a United States Olympic Committee spokesperson, said in a statement. “All are represented by counsel and being appropriately supported by the USOC and the U.S. Consulate in Rio.”

[neohippie]

151. I think your idea of facts is different from mine

How are you supporting this claim that the swimmers lied directly to the police in interviews during their official investigation? Because I have never seen that reported, so how is it that you seem to know this? I have repeatedly asked you to back up this claim, but have yet to seen a source that does, want to know why you can't cite any sources because there is no evidence to support this.

[SunSeeker]

142. No, I hold police and the judiary to a higher standard than jocks.

A judge and police detained a plane, confiscated passports and arrested three swimmers all for a "crime" the police now admits does not even carry jail time.

[neohippie]

112. when were all four interviewed by the police?

I was not aware of any source declaring that all four swimmers were interviewed by the police and that they all four lied? Can you reference any story that makes this declaration? It was my understanding that the initial lie was told to one of the swimmers mothers, the story then somehow made it to the press, which then garnered the attention of the police who investigated and determined the story was false, this is what I believe happened. I also believe that the swimmers never filed a police report about the initial story. Is it wrong that they lied in the first place, sure, but now it's been claimed that the swimmers all four by you that they lied in police interviews and by others that the swimmers lied to the police, but where is any evidence that the police were lied to directly in interviews? I am not saying that this did or didn't happen, I am only asking for evidence that you are basing your claims on here

[neohippie]

53. Did they?

It was my understanding that they never reported any crime they told the story about the robbery to family and somehow the press got a hold of the story and the police investigated but since they didn't report the crime how do you seem to know that they lied to the police?

All of this seems very blown out of proportion at any rate.

Were lies told, probably but to whom? Where is your evidence that anyone lied to the police?

[Tempest]

75. They were interviewed by police early in the investigation and they lied to them

Two of the swimmers involved in the incident, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, were removed from a U.S.-bound flight on Wednesday night and detained by Brazilian officials. They told officials the story had been fabricated, the AP reported.

"“The three U.S. Olympic swimmers (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen) are cooperating with authorities and in the process of scheduling a time and place today to provide further statements to the Brazilian authorities,” Patrick Sandusky, a United States Olympic Committee spokesperson, said in a statement. “All are represented by counsel and being appropriately supported by the USOC and the U.S. Consulate in Rio.”

[neohippie]

88. Can you please cite some source to this claim

I haven't read anything that proves your claim that any of the swimmers told lies to the police?

I see where when interviewed by the police the swimmers cooperated and "They told officials the story had been fabricated" So Please give me evidence that your claim is based on fact, I'm waiting to see your cited source

[LanternWaste]

96. Is not a fabrication in this particular context, a lie?

Is not a fabrication in this particular context, a lie?

[neohippie]

107. Lies were told where is the evidence that any swimmer lied to the police directly

I am not challenging the fact that lies were told, to the mother of one of the swimmers and that these lies then led to this current situation, where the press and the police investigated a story that has proven to be false.

But Tempest has repeatedly stated that the swimmers lied to the police. All I am asking is how he came to this conclusion, and is there any evidence to suggest that the swimmers told lies to the police directly?

[Tempest]

113. Apparently you're completely ignorant on how a police investigation is conducted

Police Investigation 101: Interview the victims early in the investigation while memories are fresh.

[neohippie]

118. So you know that the police interviewed all four victims and that they all lied

When the did these interviews take place, I suppose you have transcripts? Dates times source?

[neohippie]

91. Where are you getting this information

You seem to keep insisting that they lied to the police, when and where did who lie to the police.

I am in agreement that lies were told, but to whom when?

[roamer65]

66. Yup. People will focus on this one and ignore the real incidents down there.

Kidnapping of a NZ athlete, robberies of Australian, Chinese and British athletes. Murder of a Olympic security officer who turned wrong way into a favela.

[LanternWaste]

99. What specifically leads you to that allegation?

"People will focus on this one and ignore the real incidents down there."

What specifically leads you to that allegation? Over the past week, I've read many stories regarding the "real" (as opposed to synthetically created in a laboratory, or are you merely trivializing this specific incident to better validate your own biases?) incidences that have occurred during the games, as well as many more responses to these stories.

[suffragette]

78. If Brazil police had not done this, the truth would not have come out.

People and media would have continued to excoriate Brazil and Brazilians for what actually was vandalizing behavior by the American swimmers.

[Blue_Tires]

82. Maybe next time they'll learn honesty is the best policy

had they been upfront about what had happened, we would have mostly forgotten about it by now

[SunSeeker]

89. Well that certainly justifies police state tactics.

[Blue_Tires]

94. Different countries have different laws and methods

if that's a problem, then don't visit...

I don't know what's "police state" about questioning some folks for a couple of hours, especially after the gas station manager told his story...

[LanternWaste]

100. I'm sure you can point to someone (other than yourselves) making that argument, yes?

I'm sure you can point to someone (other than yourselves) making that argument, yes (regardless of your own personal definition of police state tactics)?

[stopbush]

26. Is it really too much to expect these athletes to be respectful

of other countries when they're abroad, representing the USA? Especially a seasoned athlete like Lochte, who has been to many cmpetitions overseas.

[GOLGO 13]

28. Ever hear him speak? He's a typical jock douchebag.

Everybody laughs at him. With that attention seeking platinum blonde hair & he speaks like a spastic buffoon. This will be his legacy. I'm sure of it.

<laughing & laughing>

[wheniwasincongress]

34. Does Lochte still say "J'YEAH!" ?

[DinahMoeHum]

40. Looks like his party animal reputation has now cost him. . .

. . .too bad he is taking other teammates with him.

[zonkers]

121. I think he's awesome. I thought his hair was green.

[Catherine Vincent]

52. Thugs?

[Ace Rothstein]

104. I think they qualify as asshats.

[WhiteTara]

57. White Male Privilege

[LynneSin]

69. Seriously! You'd think it was Gabby Douglas who committed a horrible crime

The way she has been racked over the coals because she did not put her hand over her heart during the national anthem.

[JohnnyLib2]

59. Trump hired them to distract--

Damn him

[Tempest]

70. SWIMMERS ADMITTED THEY LIED

Two of the swimmers involved in the incident, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, were removed from a U.S.-bound flight on Wednesday night and detained by Brazilian officials. They told officials the story had been fabricated, the AP reported.

"“The three U.S. Olympic swimmers (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen) are cooperating with authorities and in the process of scheduling a time and place today to provide further statements to the Brazilian authorities,” Patrick Sandusky, a United States Olympic Committee spokesperson, said in a statement. “All are represented by counsel and being appropriately supported by the USOC and the U.S. Consulate in Rio.”

[neohippie]

93. Yes we now know that the swimmers lied

But, when did they lie to the police? It's really a simple question, can you prove what you said actually happened? Either it happened or you're confused about what happened. The lies that were told, were told to others not the police, the story then got to the police and when they investigated, you are claiming that the swimmers themselves lied to the police. So either you are misinformed or you are lying now

[LanternWaste]

102. You should continue digging in...

You should continue digging in... the rationalization you are constructing is rather bemusing.

[neohippie]

109. What rationalization?

Lying to the police is a crime, lying to your Mother? I find it amusing that someone can claim that the police were lied to and that there was an admission by the swimmers that they lied to the police when there is no evidence of that but hey facts don't seem to matter to many people these days

[Tempest]

110. Apparently you're completely ignorant on how a police investigation is conducted

Police Investigation 101: Interview the victims early in the investigation while memories are fresh.

[neohippie]

119. Since the swimmers never filed any official report of the incident

When did the investigation begin exactly? how did the police learn about the story in the first place, who told what to whom when? I mean all the facts aren't even out yet but your still claiming the swimmers lied to the police in official interviews?

[OBenario]

143. Plus...

They don't have to lie to police specifically for this to be considered "false communication of crime". Communicating a false crime to a newspaper, media in general, or even social networks can get anyone in trouble in Brazil.

[neohippie]

150. I think the jury is still out

Being asked at gunpoint to give someone money sounds like robbery to me.

I'm sure the the truth is somewhere in between what both sides are claiming, but the way this story unfolded is hardly how a crime is normally investigated, it wasn't reported directly to the police, it was a story told to one of the victims mothers, that somehow made it's way to the press, the details seem to be in question with the missing video but all I have asked for is for someone to backup their claim that the swimmers lied to the police in interviews, which nobody seems to have done so far, so Did, the swimmers lie in police interviews? Still a pretty simple question, either that claim is true or false?

[neohippie]

152. My point is simple quit moving the goal posts

Either the swimmers lied to police investigators in official interviews as claimed or that never happened, why is that so hard to understand

[jberryhill]

125. "can you prove what you said actually happened?"

I think the people in Rio have a much better handle on all of the relevant details than anyone in this thread.

I doubt the judge is doing anything for shits and giggles here.

The legal system operates differently there. In some ways better, in some ways not better, but their country, their rules. That's why it is always advisable to be on your best behavior whenever you are in another country.

[Wednesdays]

84. Well, then they're toast

They might as well join the Trump campaign, because they're going to be about as popular.

[NaturalHigh]

85. Well this whole thing has turned into a clusterfuck.

[trueblue2007]

87. strip them of their medals. they are a disgrace.

[stopbush]

103. TMZ now reporting that the security guards at the gas station did

pull their guns and did point them at the athletes.

Lochte is sticking by his story - says the video released is missing 3 minutes that corraborate his story.

Stay tuned.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2016/08/18/tmz-ryan-lochte-claims-gas-station-video-cover-up.html?via=mobile&source=copyurl

[anneboleyn]

114. It IS ROBBERY by the "guard," whose 3 minutes on the tape is edited out. Pointing a gun and

demanding money is considered robbery (whether this guy was "off duty" or not). There are a lot of people here immediately hating on Lochte, and believing the frankly ridiculous scenario created by the Rio chief of police. First, the off-duty guard COMMITTED A CRIME NOT THE SWIMMERS. Seizing the swimmers from their flight is ridiculous judicial overreach, and that insane gesture is 100% about Rio's image. Even the Rio authorities admitted that the "off duty guard" (who is dressed in black) pulled a gun on the swimmers and demanded money. That is robbery. Period. Then the crucial three minutes of the cctv footage are missing -- nobody thinks that is HIGHLY suspicious? And guess what -- you can, after the three minute gap, see Lochte etc get out of the car, hand over money and wallets, and hold their hands up in the air?! A few minutes later they are sitting down, still holding their hands up.

[Tempest]

117. There's no evidence the guard demanded money

The swimmers claim they paid cash for the damage they caused. They said nothing about coercion or threats.

[LisaL]

141. Would that situation be legal in US?

You go to the restroom, you break something, guard holds you at gun point and you hand over cash?

"Still, the description of the security guard’s use of a gun dovetailed with Mr. Lochte’s follow-up explanations of the episode, raising the possibility that the men had felt during the confusion of the moment that they were being pressured to hand over their money."

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/19/sports/olympics/police-say-ryan-lochte-lied-about-gunpoint-assault.html?_r=0

[anneboleyn]

145. Absolutely not legal -- it is extortion for an "official" to hold someone at gunpoint and demand $$$

[anneboleyn]

146. A gun pointed at you isn't a threat? Holding their hands up in the air doesn't imply a threat?

They can also be seen handing money over on the cctv footage. I have no idea why people are so determined to argue that Lochte and his teammates were being at all treated appropriately by having a gun shoved in their faces and money demanded for "breaking a mirror" -- and that part was confirmed by the Rio police chief. Yes Lochte is a jerk but they were held at gunpoint and ordered to pay money.

[LisaL]

147. I don't understand it either.

Apparently the mirror wasn't even broken (if you believe what is being reported by TMZ).

[Tempest]

115. Except his story has changed

He originally said the security guard put his gun up against his head.

Now he's saying the security guard pointed it at them, which is not in dispute since the security guard confirmed he pulled his gun on them.

[jcgoldie]

136. Actually

It has changed at least a couple of times. He told the today show when the story broke that they were "pulled over" by someone posing as the police.

[d_r]

108. I've been drunk before

and from what little I've heard about this - and I can well be wrong because no one really knows the whole story - I wonder if it is a big drunken misunderstanding.

The swimmers told the police that they were robbed by men pretending to be police who held them at gun point.

The video shows them being drunk and causing damage, then the security guards arrive and hold them at gunpoint. The video shows money being exchanged.

So could it be they were so drunk they thought they were being robbed, and the security thought they were being bribed? Throw in some problems in translation and language difficulties, and it is like an episode of three's company.

[jcgoldie]

135. Nice try

There was an interpreter present and this is obviously not an innocent misunderstanding.

[d_r]

140. I got no skin in it

I'm not trying anything, just saying.

ETA I didn't mean "innocent" either, I meant too drunk to know what was going on / remember correctly.

[Skittles]

126. whatever happened, their behavior is disgraceful

they disgraced themselves and their country

[UMTerp01]

131. It was pretty clear yesterday when more evidence was coming out that he LIED!!

He won't be able to set foot in Brazil again. Smeared Brazil with this fabrication and embarrassed himself and the United States in the process. This is so disgusting. What an idiot. Security cameras all over the place. Coming back to the village with all the belongings they said had been stolen. He and his little frat boy buddies going into another country and blaming brown people for this. I am so pissed off. So embarrassing for the United States. This kind of privileged BS is the reason so many foreigners can't stand us. Another messed up part is his getting out of dodge and leaving his teammates behind to hang. He is a grade A douchebag.

Meanwhile, the #AllLivesMatter crew is harping on Gabby Douglas because she didn't put her hand over her heart during the national anthem. GTFOH!!!!

[jcgoldie]

134. Wonder what the difference is between Gabby and Ryan?

Hmmm

[Skittles]

133. heh, check out the name of the "last episode" of his reality TV show

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Would_Ryan_Lochte_Do%3F

[mahina]

137. I bet his Mom is frikking livid.

So humiliating. Bet he asked her for money.

Because he spent all of his.

Back to my own damn business...

[JCMach1]

138. Swimmers lied and now Brazilian Police are doing the same

The swimmers did some minor drunken vandalism. Going back to their cab, security guard with a gun comes at them and shakes them down for money.

No fight is shown on video.

guy with a gun comes in around 1:16

[blitzen]

148. More from TMZ: it WAS pretty much a robbery

http://www.tmz.com/2016/08/18/ryan-lochte-cracked-sign-robbery/