Military firefighter Wallaci Vinicius Filgueira Abadia Bovo became a defendant in court after being filmed attacking a motorcyclist who stopped to observe a traffic accident on Avenida Mangalô, in Setor Morada do Sol, in Goiânia. The case happened on November 11, 2024, around 4:20 am, and was recorded by security cameras. In the images, the soldier appears punching the man and trying to kick the motorcycle as he leaves the scene.
The decision was taken last Wednesday by judge Flávia Morais Nagato, who accepted the complaint presented by the Public Ministry against Wallaci. The Fire Department Internal Affairs investigation showed that the two men who were on the motorcycle did not attack the soldiers, contradicting the version presented by the firefighters in their testimony. The investigation also identified attacks against one of the men while he was already lying on the floor.
Wallaci's defense informed TV Anhanguera that it will analyze the content of the complaint before speaking out. The other firefighter who appears in the images preferred not to comment on the case. The Goiás Military Fire Department stated that it does not condone conduct contrary to the values and duties of the institution and that it will monitor the process in the Military Court, without anticipating conclusions about the responsibility of those involved.
On the left, the soldier from the Wallaci Fire Department Vinicius Filgueira Abadia Bovo, who became a defendant for attacking a motorcyclist in Goiânia; on the right, the victim — Photo: Reproduction/TV Anhanguera
How the attacks happened
The images show that two men passed by the place where Fire Department teams were providing care to victims of an accident on a motorcycle. They stopped near the incident and watched the movement. Shortly afterwards, a firefighter approached, talked to the motorcyclist for a few seconds and punched him twice. The man sped up to leave the scene, while the soldier tried to kick the motorcycle.
According to the motorcyclist, the firefighter asked if he had any relation to the victims of the accident and why he was at the scene. The man stated that he responded that he was just curious and that, without any provocation, he began to be attacked. He also reported that the soldier was armed and had used the pistol to hit him in the helmet area, causing a nose bleed.
"He gave me a butt in the helmet. Two, two or three butts in the helmet. Then I accelerated the motorcycle and left the place. But I saw that my nose was bleeding a lot and I decided to go back to make a report", he said.
After leaving the scene, the motorcyclist and passenger returned on foot. According to the victim, he was on the phone with the Military Police, using number 190, to register the incident. The objective was to write down the ambulance number and try to identify the firefighter responsible for the attacks. However, according to the report, the military approached him again, this time with a gun, and ordered the two men to lie down on the ground.
Security cameras recorded a firefighter holding one of the men by the arm and then two soldiers forcing him to lie down. The other man was also knocked down. About three minutes later, one of the men on the floor sat up and was kicked twice by a military firefighter, before lying down again. Another two minutes passed until the soldiers approached again and the men got up and walked away.
The motorcyclist stated that, during the second approach, his face was already bloody and he had difficulty breathing. According to him, even under these conditions, he was attacked again. Despite reporting that he was a victim of violence, the man ended up arrested by the Military Police and taken to the Central de Flagrantes, where he had to pay a bond of R$2,000 to be released.
Firefighter claimed to have been attacked
In testimony, soldier Wallaci presented a different version about the beginning of the confusion. According to him, the motorcyclist was asked to leave the scene of the accident and asked if he was a relative of any of the victims. The man allegedly replied that he was just observing, but, according to the soldier, he started to curse him and punched him. Wallaci stated that he only retaliated against the attack and that the motorcyclist left the scene on his motorcycle.
The firefighter also reported that, when the man returned on foot, he allegedly insulted him again, pushed him and punched him. According to the military, the motorcyclist already had blood on his hands when he returned. Wallaci stated that he arrested the man and that he resisted the approach, punching and kicking the firefighters again.
The motorcyclist denied having cursed or attacked the soldiers and stated that he was just trying to defend himself. He said that he did not expect to be attacked by a professional who was there to provide assistance to victims of an accident and said that the situation provoked outrage, mainly because he ended up arrested after reporting the violence.
What the investigation pointed out
The Fire Department's Internal Affairs Division analyzed the images from the security cameras and concluded that Sergeant Adão Sousa da Cruz struck one of the men in the head while he was already lying on the ground. Afterwards, according to the investigation, soldier Wallaci kicked the same person in the back and face. The investigation also showed that the two men who were on the motorcycle did not attack the firefighters, contradicting the statements presented by the military.
Despite having been identified by the Internal Affairs Department as one of those involved in the attacks, Adão was not included in the complaint received by the Court. In the decision, judge Flávia Morais Nagato determined the exclusion of the name of the sergeant from the defendant in the process. The document does not clarify the reason for the exclusion or inform whether he received any administrative punishment.
Based on the complaint presented by the Public Prosecutor's Office, the judge made Wallaci a defendant for the crime of minor bodily injury against the motorcyclist. The judge also ordered the investigation into possible attacks on the man riding pillion to be closed, due to a lack of evidence that he had also been attacked. The soldier joined the Fire Department in 2020 and currently works in Anápolis.
Victim waits for justice
The motorcyclist stated that he expects the firefighter to be held responsible for the attacks and questioned the fact that he was arrested after the episode. According to him, in addition to paying bail to leave the police station, he began carrying out community service as a result of the case, despite claiming that he was a victim of violence.
"I never imagined that a firefighter would do this, because the guy is there to help a victim, who could have gotten hurt, and he himself is hurting others on the street. I hope he answers for what he did, because I am answering, I was a victim and I am paying community service for something in which I was a victim", he declared.
