The London police officer arrested for the disappearance of a 33-year-old woman has been identified as Wayne Couzens, whose duties include protecting the royal family, according to a report.
Metropolitan Police confirmed that one of his men was arrested Tuesday afternoon at his home in Kent on suspicion of kidnapping.
The department added Wednesday that Couzens was also detained on suspicion of murder and indecent exposure, Sun reported.
According to the report, the father of two children, 48, is a Westminster-based diplomatic protection police officer.
Sarah Everard, a marketing executive, disappeared on March 3 after leaving a friend’s house. The BBC last reported her about 9.30pm that night via a doorbell in Clapham, south-west London.
Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin detected Couzens’ arrest as “an important fact” in the investigation and said investigators were doing everything possible to find Everard.
Couzens, whose job was to protect members of the royal family at public events, joined the force about ten years ago after previously working in a garage repair business, according to the Sun.
“It’s really shocking that he was arrested for Sarah’s disappearance,” a former colleague told the police news channel, which was searching the Westminster Palace police station closet.
Neighbor David Ladd, 48, told the Sun he saw on Tuesday night a handcuffed Couzens “escorted in the back of a police car.”
According to the report, a woman believed to be his partner was also arrested at the same place on suspicion of helping a criminal.
Couzens’ stepmother, Corrine Couzens, told Sun she couldn’t comment, but added, “I’m aware of what’s going on.”
Deputy Police Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said Wednesday that he “really hopes” Everard stays alive as the search continues.
“This evening’s arrest is an important and significant fact,” Ephgrave said.
“We will continue to work swiftly on this investigation, but the fact that the arrested man is a Metropolitan Police officer on duty is both shocking and deeply disturbing,” he said.
The missing woman’s cousin, Tom Everard, expressed hope that the arrest would help police locate her.
“I understand there will be a major public concern, but it is essential that time and space be given to the research team to continue their work,” Ephgrave added.
“We hope this development will provide new information, but police still need help finding Sarah and getting home safely,” she said, according to Sun.
Meanwhile, one of Couzens’ neighbors said the agent lives with his “talkative” wife and two children.
“They just looked like a normal, normal family, there was nothing weird about it,” he told Sun.
Pamela Cane, 77, who lives nearby, described them as “the perfect family.”
“I can not believe. The arrest is more shocking because he is a police officer, “he said.
Homicide investigators are leading the investigation, which is still being treated as an investigation into missing persons, the media reported.
“Right now, it’s definitely an investigation of missing people, but I have an open mind about all the possibilities of the investigation,” Goodwin said.