“It was a dispute over the area between criminal factions”, says governor about acts in SC

The governor of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello (PL), stated in a press conference held this Saturday (19) that the acts of vandalism recorded in the Greater Florianópolis region were “a dispute over the area between criminal factions”.

Participating in the press conference were the state’s Secretary of Public Security, Flávio Graff, the general delegate of the Civil Police, Ulisses Gabriel, the general commander of the Military Police, Aurélio Pelozato, and the general expert of the Scientific Police, Andressa Boer.

This Saturday (19), a conflict between criminal groups blocked 18 public road points in Greater Florianópolis . During the events, cars were set on fire and barricades were created with rubbish and tires.

The governor stated that at the beginning of the evening there was no longer any blockade and reassured the population. “Everyone can remain calm. They can do what they agreed to do over the weekend, and we will be vigilant,” said Mello.

The police confirmed the arrest of five suspects involved in these acts, two of whom were shot in a confrontation with police and are in hospital. According to the security forces, the acts were a response by a criminal group to an action by the Military Police in the north of the island, in the Papaquara Community region.

In the early hours of Friday (18), the police were informed that a criminal faction was preparing to take over another’s territory. The Military Police went to the region and in the confrontation with the criminals, one of the suspects was killed. Still in the action, seven people were arrested and five pistols were seized.

The prisoners must undergo a custody hearing on Sunday (20), the Civil Police forwarded the criminal records of those involved to the Public Ministry of Santa Catarina so that the body can represent them for preventive detention of all of them.

“We don’t name factions so as not to promote them. Because they are the trash of society. They are criminal factions, one wanting to take the place of the other”, stated the governor. During the press conference, the governor also said he was not aware of any interruption in public transport services in the capital and surrounding areas.

According to the general delegate, the factions are monitored by the security forces and the acts were isolated. “These organizations are constantly monitored. We did not identify any situation that would indicate a rescue or demonstration from inside prisons, for this situation to happen today. It was something occasional, due to a specific situation, an approach by the Military Police”, said Gabriel.

The delegate also reported that police investigations were launched to identify the perpetrators of the acts of vandalism .

Paul McCartney concert

The general commander of the Military Police highlighted at the press conference that all personnel from the seven battalions in Greater Florianópolis were called up to work this weekend. This Saturday (19), a concert by British singer Paul McCartney is scheduled to take place at Arena da Ressacada.

“Our police are taking care of it, so that it can happen without any type of complication or fear”, emphasized Governor Jorginho Mello.

This content was originally published in “It was a dispute over the area between criminal factions”, says governor about acts in SC on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil

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