A shocking video showing a military police officer in São Paulo, Brazil, throwing a subdued civilian off a bridge has sparked widespread condemnation and fueled debates about police violence in the country.
The incident occurred on Monday and was widely shared across social media platforms and reported by Brazilian media outlets. In response, São Paulo’s public ministry described the act as “appalling and absolutely unacceptable,” leading to the officer’s arrest early Thursday
Legal developments and defense claims
The officer, identified as Luan Felipe Alves, was seen in the video gripping the man by his shirt before shoving him over the bridge’s edge. The public ministry stated that the footage clearly shows the suspect was subdued and should have been transported to a police station unharmed.
Alves claimed his actions were intended to immobilize the individual, whom he accused of evading police, not to throw him off the bridge, according to reports from Agência Brasil.
São Paulo’s military court has ordered Alves to remain in preventive detention as investigations proceed. While charges against the officer have yet to be specified, his defence team argued that the arrest reflects “an anticipation of guilt.” Investigators believe the man survived the fall and are working to locate him for questioning.
Public outrage and protests against police brutality in Brazil
The incident has intensified public anger over police brutality in São Paulo and across Brazil. Demonstrators gathered on Thursday to demand the resignation of Secretary of Public Security Guilherme Derrite, accusing law enforcement of systemic violence.
A protester told Reuters, “We need our voices to be heard… to expose the police, which are so violent in the state of São Paulo and in Brazil.”
The case has reignited calls for accountability and reform in the police system, with citizens and human rights groups watching closely as the investigation unfolds.