A top Pennsylvania police officer defended state officers after seeing escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante paraded as a trophy following his capture on Wednesday, which followed a two-week manhunt.
Dozens of SWAT members proudly posed with the bloodied 34-year-old killer after a K-9 subdued him. Cavancante escaped from prison on August 31 – just days after he was sentenced to life in prison for the brutal 2021 murder of his ex-girlfriend.
“You know, I’m aware that a photo was taken there,” Lt. Col. George Bivens responded after a reporter confronted him about the photo and asked if it was standard procedure.
‘These men and women have worked incredibly hard under very difficult circumstances. They are proud of their work.
“I don’t care at all that they took a photo while he was in custody. Again, they take pride in their work, keeping the community safe. I say thank you to them and well done.”
Police pose with killer Danelo Cavalcante after his arrest on Wednesday
Lt. Col. George Bivens defended the photo op Wednesday
Escaped inmate Danelo Cavalcante has been captured, police said Wednesday morning
About 25 officers were able to surprise the convict on Wednesday morning when they surrounded him. Officials then released a police dog to capture the killer, who was bitten on the scalp and treated for the injury at the scene, police said.
Bivens assisted officers when questions arose about why it took so long to find Cavalcante, who was described as armed and dangerous.
Police had initially concentrated near the prison but expanded the search over the weekend after Cavalcante was spotted outside the designated area, leading to questions about how he slipped away from the more than 500 officers patrolling the area.
Authorities have declined to say how they believe Cavalcante slipped out of the initial search area, and officials have resisted questions about whether they lost a chance to capture him at the time.
Bivens added, “There will always be people who think they can do this job better, and they are entitled to that opinion. What I will tell you is that I once again place my confidence in this group of experts and this group of seasoned law enforcement professionals, the dedicated men and women, not only of the Pennsylvania State Police, but of all the other partner agencies. who went there every day.
“I would put my money on them any day of the week, and I believe the community has supported them and continues to support them.”
The arrest of the killer, which took about five minutes, brings relief to concerned residents of southeastern Pennsylvania who endured sleepless nights as he hid in the woods, broke into suburban homes for food, changed his appearance and came under gunfire. fled with a gun he had stolen from a car. garage.
Authorities used thermal imaging from an aircraft to pinpoint a possible location and then used ground forces to capture Cavalcante
About 25 officers were able to surprise him when they surrounded him Wednesday morning, but Cavalcante, wearing a Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt, tried to escape again by crawling through the brush with the gun he stole from a house he broke into Monday.
Officials then released a police dog to capture the killer, who was bitten on the scalp and treated for the injury at the scene, police said. After a bloodied Cavalcante was captured, the search team’s SWAT officers paraded him as a trophy and lined up for a photo with him around 8 a.m. EST.
The Brazilian, who is in the US illegally, was arrested in a wooded area near South Coventry Township, within the updated perimeter established by police this week. He was reportedly hiding with the rifle when he was found under a pile of logs.
People had the “intent and intent to help Cavalcante during his flight,” Bivens said Wednesday, but authorities thwarted those efforts. He did not elaborate or say anyone had been criminally charged.
Cavalcante was given a life sentence in August for killing his ex-girlfriend, Deborah Brandao, in front of her children in 2021. Prosecutors say he wanted to stop her from telling police he was wanted in Brazil’s murder. He had been arrested in Virginia after Brandao’s murder, and authorities say they believe he was trying to return to Brazil.
About 25 officers were able to surprise him as they surrounded him, but Cavalcante still tried to escape by crawling through tall grass with the rifle.
The prison tower guard who was on duty when Cavalcante escaped was fired. The escape went unnoticed for more than an hour until guards took a headcount.
The arrest of the killer, which took about five minutes, brings relief to concerned residents of southeastern Pennsylvania who endured sleepless nights as he hid in the woods, broke into suburban homes for food, changed his appearance and came under gunfire. fled with a gun he had stolen from a car. garage.
Authorities used thermal imaging from an aircraft to pinpoint a possible location and then used ground forces to capture Cavalcante, state police Lt. Col. George Bivens said Wednesday.
A plane picked up a noise source on Tuesday evening, but officials had to postpone the operation after a storm moved in, while a ground team stayed in the area overnight.
After the arrest, he was taken to a nearby state police barracks in an armored vehicle, surrounded by a convoy of dozens of vehicles with lights flashing and sirens blaring as it drove down the highway. Two police helicopters followed above.
Cavalcante was charged with escape at the Avondale barracks, according to Judge Matthew Seavey’s office. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for September 27. He would be taken to a state prison to serve the life sentence he received last month for the murder of his ex-girlfriend.