The Public Ministry of Paraná (MPPR) denounced state deputy Tito Barrichelo and his wife, Tathiana Guzella, for having carried out a police operation without the knowledge or authorization of the Civil Police.
The case was in March 2024. At the time, Barrichelo, Guzella and another civil police officer released a video on a television channel and on social media of the attempt to execute an arrest warrant against a man.
The images showed the deputy with a rifle in his hands and wearing a bulletproof vest with the Civil Police symbol. Tathiana Guzella also appears in the images wearing a police bulletproof vest.
"We are working because we are seeking to comply with an arrest warrant, specifically related to a great lawyer from Curitiba who was the victim of an attempted murder. [...] Unfortunately, so far we have not found the person under investigation, but we will not give up", said Tito.
Tito Barichello was elected state deputy in 2022 and, therefore, was removed from his role as Civil Police delegate. Guzella is also a delegate and, according to the Civil Police Internal Affairs, was also away from the police at the time, working as a parliamentary advisor.
For the Public Ministry, the three committed abuse of authority by using their position as police officers to obtain an undue advantage. In this case, according to the body, it was public exposure and personal promotion for electoral purposes.
Months after the case, Tathiana Guzella ran for a seat on the Curitiba City Council and was elected councilor for the PL, with 12,515 votes, being the most voted among the 12 women elected.
Tito Barichello and the other man are also responsible for illegal possession of a restricted firearm, because they carried out the action using a rifle without authorization.
Deputy Tito Barichello and councilor Tathiana Guzella are accused of false police operations — Photo: Reproduction
The complaint also points out that the arrest warrant was for non-compliance with an urgent protective measure, due to domestic violence. However, publications on social media associated the false operation with the investigation of a homicide.
Before receiving or not receiving the complaint, the Court gave 15 days for those accused to present a preliminary response. The justification is that the law provides for notification of those reported when crimes are committed by public officials.
In a note, Tito Barichello and Tathiana Guzella informed that the presentation of a complaint does not mean conviction and that the facts will still be submitted to Justice, with the right to contradictory proceedings, full defense and the presumption of innocence. Read the full statement below.
The RPC was unable to contact the other police officer's defense until the last update of this report.
In a statement, the Civil Police stated that it conducted the police investigation that resulted in the indictment of the three investigated and substantiated the complaint offered by the Public Ministry.
"At the administrative level, the PCPR does not have the legal authority to initiate disciplinary proceedings against those involved, due to the removal of functions at the institution to exercise an elective mandate or due to assignment to other bodies", says the note.
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Read the full statement by Tito Barichello and Tathiana Guzella
"In relation to the complaint presented by the Public Ministry of the State of Paraná, Deputy Delegate Tito Barichello and Councilor Delegate Tathiana clarify that they have full trust in Justice and reaffirm their commitment to legality, ethics and respect for institutions.
Throughout their professional careers, they have always guided their actions by complying with legislation, defending society, protecting families and law-abiding citizens and combating crime.
They emphasize that the presentation of a complaint does not represent a conviction and that the facts will still be subjected to due judicial assessment, in compliance with the constitutional principles of adversarial proceedings, broad defense and the presumption of innocence.
The technical defense will appear in the case in due course, at which time the clarifications and legal elements necessary to demonstrate the regularity of their conduct and the full clarification of the facts will be presented.
Finally, they reiterate their confidence in the Judiciary and reaffirm that they will remain firm in their principles and commitment to public security, justice and the defense of the population of Paraná."
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