What started out as a confusing and even somewhat amusing story may turn criminal, as ABC News is reporting that Rio police have recommended charges for American swimmers Ryan Lochte and James Feigen on charges of false reporting of a crime.
ABC News originally reported that the indictment was confirmed by the Federal Police of Brazil, but now say that the indictment is only a suggestion, and no formal charges have been made.
Lochte and Feigen were among a group of four U.S. swimmers which originally reported that they were robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning by individuals posing as police.
In the days since the incident their story has come into question, it has been alleged by Rio police that the swimmers had possibly vandalized a gas station bathroom before lying about the incident to authorities.
Lochte was ordered to remain in Brazil on Wednesday, only for authorities to discover he'd already hopped on a flight back to the United States. On Wednesday night, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger -- the other two swimmers involved in the incident -- were sitting on their plane on the tarmac as Brazilian authorities took them off their U.S.-bound plane for further questioning.
Until Wednesday night, Feigen was still missing. But he is now with authorities and wants to return home, according to USA Today.
Brazilian police held a press conference on Thursday afternoon to make their message clear. Although the investigation is still ongoing, as far as authorities are concerned, Ryan Lochte and three other American swimmers fabricated a story about being robbed at gunpoint by men posing as police officers.
A closed-circuit gas station video of Lochte, Feigen, Bentz and Conger has been obtained by authorities in Brazil and is still under analysis. The video purportedly shows one of the four men in question breaking a door down at the gas station before a fight develops between one of the swimmers and a security guard.
We will provide more details as they become available.
