Four smoking inspectors attacked

Four smoking control inspectors from the Health Bureau (SSM) received medical treatment in the hospital after being assaulted by a man who was illegally smoking in the “Triangle Garden” in the Areia Preta area.

According to a statement from the Bureau, the assault occurred on November 7 when the inspectors where performing their duties during a routine operation.

The inspectors witnessed the man illegally smoking in the garden and, acting in accordance to the established procedures, they approached the offender to issue the note of infringement.

The inspectors’ intervention triggered a reaction from a group of people who were also gathered in the garden. The members of the group repeatedly refused to present identification documents. The inspectors were assaulted as the man attempted to flee from the scene.

This reaction led the inspectors to seek help from police authorities.
During the chaos that ensued, one of the inspectors was pushed in the chest and fell while the other three were also violently pushed and injured.

The SSM remarked that none of the inspectors reacted in a retaliatory manner to the assault and they all showed commendable self-control. The situation was only controlled with the presence of police officers. As a consequence of the assault, the four inspectors were sent to the hospital for physical examination.
Those responsible for the assault will be charged for the crimes of disobedience, assault, resistance and coercion.

In the same statement, the SSM strongly condemned such acts of violence and reaffirmed that they will not tolerate such conduct, reminding citizens that any person who assaults a law enforcer in the performance of his duties is in breach of the law.