In a striking incident in Morro Agudo, São Paulo, police officers were criticized for their violent response to Carlos Eduardo Montalvão, a 46-year-old painter who was having a mental health crisis. Vice-president of the Human Rights Commission of the Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB), Douglas Eduardo Campos Marques, voiced his concerns about the appropriateness of the police response, questioning whether they truly aimed to provide assistance or simply to exert force. He pointed out that there were enough officers present to have restrained Montalvão without resorting to aggression, suggesting that a more humane approach could have been adopted.

The altercation took place in the streets, as Montalvão reportedly lashed out verbally at the officers in their patrol car, which escalated quickly to physical violence. Eyewitness accounts and recordings of the incident showcase a troubling scene, characterized by the disproportionate use of force against an individual clearly in distress. Marques's critique, drawing attention to the methods employed by law enforcement, raises significant questions about the training and guidelines followed by police when dealing with individuals experiencing mental health crises.

This incident not only highlights the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with mental health issues but also sparks a broader discussion about police conduct and the need for reform in how forces are trained to handle such situations. The call for a thorough examination of police actions, particularly in relation to human rights standards, is becoming increasingly urgent in Brazil, where issues of police violence and accountability continue to attract public scrutiny.