Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte were pulled over by police imposters when heading to the Olympic Village in a cab.
- Aug 15, 2016
AceShowbiz - Ryan Lochte had a scary experience in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the Olympic Games. The American swimmer said he and his teammates were pulled over by police imposters while they were on their ways to the Olympic Village on Sunday, August 14.
"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," the athlete told NBC News' Billy Bush. "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 cell phone, he left my credentials."
USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky confirmed the incident, "According to four members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte), they left France House early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village. Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers who demanded the athletes' money and other personal belongings. All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities."
Lochte's mother Ileana was the first to break the news. "I think they're all shaken up." she told USA Today. "I'll be OK when I see him." Lochte's swim coach David Marsh and IOC (International Olympic Committee) spokesman originally denied the report.
