A man wanted for murder while posing as cop in 2006 was arrested this week – after he was caught brazenly taking an entrance exam at the police academy.
Cristiano da Silva, 40, even managed to earn passing marks in different phases of the testing process to join the force in São Paulo, Brazil, including a ‘conduct’ exam meant to uncover any red flags.
The would-be cadet performed well on the written exam and then moved on to the ‘suitability and conduct’ portion, which is considered the hardest part of the test.
The exam is given to identify any ‘inappropriate and reprehensible behavior… incompatible with the exercise of the function of Police Investigator.’
Cops eventually got wise and learned that that a warrant had been issued for da Silva’s arrest in 2007.
He was on his way to take the oral test at the police academy Monday when waiting police officers arrested him.
Da Silva had been wanted since November 2006, when he and his cohort, Ricardo Coutinho, approached pizza shop worker José Ferreira on a street in the eastern São Paulo neighborhood of Cidade Lider.
The used a car designed to look like a police vehicle and identified themselves as detectives before handcuffing Ferreira. They then forced him into the vehicle and stole his car as well.
Cristiano da Silva evaded captured since the alleged robbery and murder of a pizza shop worker that took place on November 9 ,2006 in São Paulo, Brazil. Authorities finally arrested him Monday when he visited a police academy to take the oral exam as part of the process to enter the Civil Police
Cristiano da Silva managed to earn passing marks in different phases of the testing process to join the force in São Paulo, Brazil, including a ‘conduct’ exam meant to uncover any red flags
Cristiano da Silva excelled in the early phase of the process to enter the Civil Police academy before he was finally arrested after 17 years on the run for the robbery and murder of a pizza shop owner
Ferreira was taken about 40 miles north to the town of Mairiporã, where he was shot and killed.
His car was found burned in Guarulhos, about 12 miles northeast of São Paulo.
Residents who witnessed Ferreira’s abduction were able to take down the car’s license plates, which allowed cops to track it down.
The fake police car was eventually found at a parking lot rented by Countinho, leading to his arrest.
Coutinho was found guilty of robbery and homicide, and was sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison
