Ed Olympic swimmers may have lied about being robbed

I had the feeling something wasn't quite right at least six hours before this thread was even created. I did enjoy reading people's thought processes, and would have been happy to accept if I was wrong.

But I'm not! Neener-neener-neener!!!

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11446237&postcount=554

“I think he feels it was more of a traumatic mischaracterization. People listening at home might feel that was embellishment at the time, and that’s up to people to decide,” Lauer added.
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Yeah, I didn't think that came out of Lochte's pie-hole.
 
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iknownothing said:
On TMZ, they're saying the swimmers were causing damage to the gas station, and either a) the security guard pulled a gun and demanded they pay for damages, or b) the manager asked them to pay and they did:

U.S. Swimmers -- They Damaged Gas Station, Guard Forced Them to Pay Up
http://www.tmz.com/2016/08/18/team-usa-swimmers-ryan-lochte-gas-station-security-guard
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BBC too. No conspiracy theories about corrupt cops needed...
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37115778
 
It certainly was traumatic mischaracterization. The swimmers caused trauma to the bathroom and then they mischaracterized everything.

Lauer and Lochte win.
 
I still don't get why they needed to make up a story? Apparently nobody called the police and the gas station owner was paid, so why say anything?
 
Modified said:
I still don't get why they needed to make up a story? Apparently nobody called the police and the gas station owner was paid, so why say anything?
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Because Lochte told his mother they'd been robbed, and his mother told the press.
 
William Parcher said:
The gas station is owned by corrupt police. They use a very fragile and dirt-cheap door on the bathroom. It's always locked and the slightest pull causes it to all fall apart. Then the owners (corrupt cops) approach and demand payment. They got $400 from the swimmers, but the door only costs $6 to replace. They actually have a stockpile of these doors in a storage room at the gas station. Police corruption robbery and a gun was always present to make sure the payoff happens.

Ginger wins.
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Lovely strawman. Can I lend it a hat?

The government turned pretty quickly the story and said "uh, no." Any guesses why? I'd say it's because the traditional thing for an Olympic city to do is run all the prostitutes, pimps, pushers, purse snatchers, pickpockets, petty thieves and anyone with oozing wounds out of town starting a year ahead and getting serious for the duration of the event. Cops would know if a random car side or street corner robbery was statistically likely or unlikely.
 
Babbylonian said:
It's also still apparent that at least one poster on this thread has a very bad case of Olympic athlete hero worship.
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Yeah... but for these knuckleheads? Weird. If Phelps had been involved, I'd understand.

If Michael Jordan commits a crime we of course all look the other way.

But Scottie Pippen, Ron Harper, John Paxson, and Horace Grant? They go to jail.
 
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If the main actor in this is Lochte, and it appears that is the case, I say good luck to the Brazilians on getting him extradited on a 'making a false report' charge, which can't be more than a misdemeanor.

Fines all around and a stern talking to, then back on the plane to the US for the three that are still in Brazil.
 
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I could be wrong but...

The two swimmers pulled from the plane last night never gave false statements to police. Last night was the first time they were interviewed by the police and they admitted it was all a hoax.

Lochte and Feigen did give false statements to police and so they are vulnerable. But Lochte is now untouchable on American soil. Not the same for Feigen who is still in Brazil.

Feigen might really be the only one who the cops can go after.
 
Trebuchet said:
Lochte in particular was pretty much posting about not complying when the gunmen told him to get down on the ground. Very macho.

I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the "robbers" were real police who stopped the cab for whatever reasons and were pissed off by the behavior of the arrogant (and probably drunk) Americans.

Then again, Brazil has been known to try to save face, as the did in the case of the mid-air collision probably caused by their inept ATC system.
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Or as in this case -

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-11704802

IIRC Ecclestone made a statement to the effect that it wasn't a robbery attempt, they just wanted to see him a hat...

Maybe "they" were trying to sell his MIL a hat too...

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36891829

It's entirely possible that the swimmers in question made up a story out of the thin air, but it's not out of the question that they were reporting some fact and some fiction account of an actual event.
 
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at CNN's (among others) coverage saying with outrage basically "How did a small story like this get to be so overblown?" Umm...
 
I hate to say I told you so. But I told you so.

Their story sounded dodgey right from the start.

The insistence on here that the cops must be currupt was humorous.

They just did a Bastareaud
 
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I'll post the Bastareaud again as it is so similar for your amusement

Bastareaud was included in the French tour to New Zealand and Australia in June 2009, but returned to France early after sustaining facial injuries. He initially claimed that he had been assaulted from behind by "four or five men" outside his Wellington hotel as he was returning from a night out. The New Zealand Police launched an investigation into the assault and turned up security camera footage of Bastareaud returning uninjured to his hotel with four other people at 5:22 am that night, confirming the assault could not have taken place. Bastareaud subsequently stated that he had been drunk and had sustained the injuries after tripping over a table in his hotel room, and that he had concocted the original story in order to avoid getting in trouble with team management.[5][6]
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William Parcher said:
I could be wrong but...

The two swimmers pulled from the plane last night never gave false statements to police. Last night was the first time they were interviewed by the police and they admitted it was all a hoax.
Lochte and Feigen did give false statements to police and so they are vulnerable. But Lochte is now untouchable on American soil. Not the same for Feigen who is still in Brazil.

Feigen might really be the only one who the cops can go after.
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If this is true (and I believe it is) then those swimmers (Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz) should be just fine. On the other hand, Feigen looks to be n a whole lot of trouble.

Lesson #1: Never....Ever....Lie to the Police. Only talk to the Police when YOUR Lawyer is present. Otherwise, STFU!
 
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