A 20-year-old recycling collector was arrested in flagrante delicto on Friday, October 6, for allegedly setting a car on fire by mistake during an altercation at a bar in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo. According to the São Paulo Interior Judicial Police Department, the arrest was subsequently turned into a preventive detention, and the suspect was sent to the Caiuá Provisional Detention Center. His criminal history includes over ten police records dating back three years for various offenses such as bodily injury, drug trafficking, theft, and corruption of minors.

In the incident, a 16-year-old accomplice was also involved but has not yet been located by authorities. The Judicial Police has stated that investigations are ongoing, led by the Youth and Childhood Police Station (DIJU) in Presidente Prudente, to find the teenager. The vehicle that was set on fire was parked on a street in the city during the confrontation.

The case highlights ongoing issues with crime and juvenile involvement in illegal activities within the region. The significant number of prior offenses recorded against the recycling collector raises questions regarding rehabilitation and the effectiveness of the justice system in dealing with repeat offenders, especially adolescents in the vicinity. The incident adds to the concerns regarding public safety and crime rates in São Paulo, which have been a topic of discussion among local authorities and residents alike.