Things have officially escalated in Rio de Janeiro situation regarding United States swimmer Ryan Lochte.
In the most recent move, a Brazil judge has reportedly ordered the seizure of Lochte and teammate Jimmy Feigin's passports.
In equally surprising news, it is already being reported that Lochte has indeed left Brazil and returned home to the United States.
This all occurs after Lochte — along with the rest of his relay team — had reportedly been robbed at gunpoint in Rio early on Sunday morning.
From NBC News:
"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," Lochte said. "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."
Reports originally conflicted on whether Lochte was indeed robbed, and later reports show that the Rio police seriously doubt whether the crime happened. According to Rio police, Lochte and his teammates never reported the crime, and the unit only began investigated after a report from Lochte's mother indicated that he had been robbed.
In more damning evidence, the Daily Mail has obtained video of Lochte arriving at the athletes' village on Sunday, with at least some of his belongings with him.
Lochte claims that his money and wallet had been taken, but that he was able to retain his cell phone and credentials in the robbery.
"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.
The video above appears to show Lochte with his credentials, and what may either be a phone or a wallet. It is not completely clear what else he may have with him in the video.
Brazil police are still investigating the situation, but if Lochte is indeed out of the country and back in the United States, then it will be interesting to see just how far it continues.
