Police Incidents in South Minas February 2026
Police in Varginha are searching for a 29-year-old man who fled after a shootout during a chase with officers.
In Varginha, Minas Gerais, the Military Police are in pursuit of a 29-year-old man following a dramatic confrontation during a police chase on the night of February 9, 2026. The man is wanted under an arrest warrant and managed to escape after abandoning the vehicle he was using. Earlier that same day, another fugitive was killed in a separate encounter with police in the rural area of Guapé, illustrating the ongoing issues with crime and law enforcement in the region.
The incident began when the police received an anonymous tip about a suspect driving a white Chevy Celta, potentially armed. Officers promptly initiated a patrol and located the vehicle near Avenida dos Imigrantes. Upon signaling the driver to stop, he disregarded the order and sped off, colliding with a motorcyclist in the process, who fortunately sustained only minor injuries, highlighting the risks involved in these high-speed pursuits.
The chase continued into the Santa Maria neighborhood, where additional police resources were deployed to assist in apprehending the suspect. This situation underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in managing public safety amid rising crime rates, as well as the dangers posed to the community during such high-stakes encounters.