Today’s developments on #LochMess : Indictments, videos, lies

These are the developments from Thursday on LochteGate.

When Ryan Lochte’s mother first started talking to the media about her son’s alleged robbery, she probably had no idea of the international incident this would set off between the governments of Brazil and the U.S.

But the missing details from the story have come out.

The rush to the airport

“This incident has caused so much damage to Rio’s brand abroad that I think Brazilians deserve a clear, consistent account of what happened,” said Brian Winter, vice president for policy at Americas Society and Council of the Americas, to The NY Times.

It’s looking more and more like the swimmers were rushing to get out of Brazil. As hard as it is to believe, Lochte was the smartest of the bunch and already made it to back to the States by Tuesday. According to USA Today, Gunnar Bentz had shown up at the airport by 4:00 p.m., a good five hours before his plane was scheduled to depart.

New video from the gas station

There is now a new video that has been confirmed. The footage was from the gas station, in Barra da Tijuca, where the athletes stopped at to use the bathroom. The new video shows Lochte and his USA teammates damaging the bathroom and then getting into an argument with the manager and security guard. Lochte refused to pay for the damage done.

Not so much a robbery but more like a wild night on the town

Once the police were called, the swimmers tried to flee in their cab, but the driver refused to budge once the security guard pulled out a gun and told them to stay put. Witnesses are now coming forward, including someone who had recognized Lochte and offered to translate between the station manager and the swimmers. Witnesses say Lochte paid the manager money for the damages and his group then left. The Daily Mail, a British media outlet — citing Brazilian authorities — that the money wasn’t handed over until the security guard took out his gun, demanding that the damages be paid for.

Even worse, however, are the reports that the swimmers, Lochte included, urinated on and vandalized the gas station building once things escalated.

Police call recording

Police now say they have identified a recording of the police phone call made from the gas station. The security guard involved with the altercation has also given a statement to the authorities.

Besides Lochte, the other three swimmers (Bentz, Conger, and Feigen, who has now surfaced) are remaining in Brazil, have retained legal counsel, and have the support of both the USOC and the U.S. consulate in Rio, according to The Washington Post. The athletes are “in the process of scheduling time and place” to give Brazilian police further statements.

The original “robbery incident” is now looking like a story the athletes made up to cover their tracks after a night of partying, drinking, and causing property damage. Since there have been numerous incidents prior and during the games of violent occurrences, the story seemed like a better way to present their behavior rather than the juvenile antics that ensued. Coupled with multiple warnings by the USOC and IOC about security and safety in the region, it probably sounded like a more believable story too.

Swimmers admit to lying

The Associated Press cited anonymous police sources in reporting that the two swimmers, Conger, and Bentz, have now admitted to making up the robbery story.

Lochte’s lawyer, with his client settled back home, is trying to mitigate matters. “They were robbed at gunpoint — the way he described it,” Ostrow said to The Washington Post.

But once more details started coming forward, the locals have not taken too kindly to being painted as thieves and violent thugs.

“I think it is false,” said Lucas Alves, 24, an under-manager of the Ipiranga gas station, told The Post. “Everyone thinks of Rio as the place of robberies and this happens.”

However, IOC spokesman Mario Andrada urged the public to calm down and stated in his daily press briefing, “Let’s give these kids a break,” he said. “They had fun. They made a mistake. Life goes on.”

Time to move on?

I think all four swimmers are now hoping that everyone just forgets all about this and moves on. Whether or not the public will do that after all the drama is another thing.

Suffice it to say, I’m sure Lochte now wishes he hadn’t told his mom the embellished version in the first place.

But the story keeps developing, with People Magazine now reporting that minutes are missing from the new video tape:

Indictments Issued

According to ABC News, USA Olympic swimmers Ryan Lochte and James Feigen have been indicted on charges of falsely reporting a crime by Rio authorities.

Police officials also said that although the guard involved was armed, he never used removed the pistol during the altercation with the American swimmers.

News sources are reporting that the athletes are still insisting that the robbery happened.

“We were robbed at gunpoint,” said 26-year-old Feigen to San Antonio Express-News, denying reports that the incident was fabricated. “It sounds like people assume we’re guilty.”

There is now an official new hashtag for all this, #LochMess.