‘My name is Cleo’: Police release audio from moment when Australian girl was found
Canberra, Nov 4: Police expected to charge a local man Thursday with abducting a 4-year-old girl from her family's camping tent 18 days before police smashed into a locked house and rescued her in an outcome celebrated around Australia.
The 36-year-old man was arrested early Wednesday around the time that police found Cleo Smith alone in the house in the town of Carnarvon. My name is Cleo, the smiling girl told the police officers who rescued her and asked her name as confirmation that they had found the right child.
Police Minister Paul Papalia said the suspect, a Carnarvon local, would likely be charged on Thursday. He did not detail those charges, but said the police investigation was continuing.
Cleo had disappeared with her sleeping bag on Oct. 16, the second day of a family camping trip at a campground on Australia's remote western coast north of Carnarvon, a community of 5,000 people where her family lives less than 10 minutes drive from the house where she was found.
Media have reported he raised suspicion among locals when he was seen buying diapers and was known to have no children, but police have disclosed little information about what made the man a suspect.
It wasn't a random tip or a clairvoyant or any of the sort of things that you might hear, Papalia told Australian Broadcasting Corp. It was just a hard police grind.
The suspect was taken from police detention to a hospital late Wednesday and again on Thursday, with what media reported were self-inflicted injuries.
Asked about reports the man was injured after banging his head against a cell wall, Western Australia Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch only replied that there were no serious injuries.
A police statement said the suspect's medical matter does not relate to any police involvement with him.
Wednesday was the first full night Cleo spent at home with her mom Ellie Smith, stepdad Jake Gliddon and her baby half-sister Isla Gliddon since the family's ordeal began.
As they slept, public buildings in the Western Australia state capital Perth, 900 kilometers (560 miles) south of Carnarvon, were illuminated with blue lights to celebrate the success of the police investigation. In Carnarvon, balloons were raised on buildings and signs were posted welcoming Cleo home.
Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine, a homicide investigator, described his reaction to finding Cleo alive as shock, followed by elation.
We'd always hoped for that outcome, but were still not prepared for it, Blaine said.
Xanthe Mallett, a criminologist at Australia's Newcastle University, said finding a victim of stranger abduction alive after more than two weeks was rare.
Sadly, they're normally killed quickly, usually during the first three hours, Mallett said.
The Carnarvon community's willingness to help police find Cleo was likely a key factor in the investigation's success, she said. Police had offered a 1 million Australian dollar ( 743,000) reward for information, but don't expect the money will be claimed.
I always thought that this was going to be somebody with local connections because it was somebody who knew that campsite, so the fact that she was so close to that campsite and so close to Cleo's home wasn't a surprise to me, Mallett said.
Police engaged so well with that community and had them on board, they had the whole community's eyes on everyone, reporting anyone suspicious, I think that was really key in this investigation just great, old-fashioned, boots-on-the-ground police work, Mallett added.
Australian police have released an audio recording of the moment they found abducted four-year-old Cleo Smith in a locked house.
Australia police released an audio recording of their discovery of four-year-old girl Cleo Smith who was abducted from an outback campsite last month. The police charged a 36-year-old man with various offences related to the abduction https://t.co/h0s4S29fLl pic.twitter.com/J6rqqqPIOb
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 4, 2021
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Mumbai gears up for New Year celebrations; over 17,000 cops to be on duty
Mumbai (PTI): The Mumbai police have deployed more than 17,000 personnel as part of elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order during the New Year celebrations, an official said on Tuesday.
Large gatherings are expected at prominent places in the city, including the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Girgaon Chowpatty, Bandra Bandstand, Juhu and Versova beaches starting Wednesday evening. The celebrations at various hotels, restaurants and malls are likely to continue till the wee hours of Thursday.
In view of the celebrations, the police have made arrangements for a strict vigil to avoid any untoward incident in the city, the official said.
Nakabandi (police checkposts) will be set up at key locations, important roads, and patrolling on streets will be intensified, he said.
"The Mumbai police, along with the traffic wing, have deployed a massive security force comprising 10 Additional Commissioners of Police, 38 Deputy Commissioners of Police, 61 Assistant Commissioners of Police, 2,790 police officers and 14,200 police personnel," the official said.
In addition, the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) platoons, Quick Response Team (QRT) teams, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) teams, Home Guards and other forces have been deployed at sensitive and important locations, according to him.
The police will take strict action against those involved in eve-teasing, sale of illicit liquor and drugs, among other things, he said.
The police appealed to people to ring in the New Year and enjoy the celebrations in a peaceful manner by following all the rules.
Citizens are advised to contact the police helpline numbers 100 or 112 for immediate assistance, the official added.
In adjoining Thane, police have launched an enforcement campaign to ensure safety of revellers during New Year celebrations. Authorities have deployed a heavy force to monitor traffic violations and drunk driving.
Under the directives of Thane Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbare and Joint Commissioner Dnyaneshwar Chavan, the Traffic Branch has deployed 739 personnel, including 59 officers, across the city.
Road blockades have been established at 54 strategic locations across the city to regulate traffic.
Specific "hotspots" identified for intensive monitoring include Yeur, Upvan, Durgadi, Katai Naka, Mumbra, and Ranjanoli Naka. Police will use 51 breath analyzer machines to test motorists and have warned that strict action will be taken against those creating noise or behaving inappropriately.
Establishments such as bars, hotels, and farmhouses have been issued specific instructions to prevent patrons from driving under the influence of liquor.
Pankaj Shirsath, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic Branch), emphasized the need for collective responsibility.
"The Thane traffic department is making sincere efforts to ensure that New Year celebrations are conducted smoothly. Therefore, it is very important to follow traffic rules as driving under the influence of alcohol, stunts or speeding can cause accidents," he cautioned.
