The London police officer arrested in 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 have confirmed that one of his own was arrested late Tuesday in his home in Kent for the kidnapping.
The department added on Wednesday that Couzens was also being held on charges of murder and indecent exposure, the Sun reported.
According to the report, the father of two (48) is a diplomatic police officer in Westminster.
Sarah Everard, a marketing manager, went missing on March 3 after leaving a friend’s home. She was last seen at around 9:30 pm via a doorbell camera in Clapham, south-west London, the BBC reported.
Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin called Couzens’ arrest “an important development” in the investigation and said investigators were doing everything in their power to find Everard.
Couzens, whose duties involved protecting members of the royal family during public events, joined the force about ten years ago, according to the Sun, after previously working at a garage repair business.
“It’s really shocking that he’s been arrested for Sarah’s disappearance,” a former colleague told the news office, the police officer, whose locker was searched in the Westminster Palace police station.
Neighbor David Ladd, 48, told the Sun he saw a handcuffed Couzens being “escorted into the back of a police car” on Tuesday night.
According to the report, a woman who is also believed to be his partner was arrested at the same place because she suspected that he had assisted an offender.
Couzens’ stepmother, Corrine Couzens, told the Sun she could not comment, but added: “I am aware of what is happening.”
Assistant Police Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said on Wednesday “we really hope” that Everard is still alive while the search continues.
“The arrest tonight is a serious and important development,” Ephgrave said.
“We will continue to work at full speed on this investigation, but the fact that the detainee is a serving Metropolitan police officer is shocking and disturbing,” he said.
The cousin of the missing woman, Tom Everard, expressed his hope that the arrest would help the police locate her.
“I understand that there will be significant public concern, but it is essential that the investigation team be given the time and space to continue with their work,” Ephgrave added.
“We hope this development will bring new information, but the police still need help locating Sarah and getting her home safely,” he told the Sun.
Meanwhile, one of Couzens’ neighbors said the officer lives with his’ chatty ‘wife and two children.
“They just looked like a normal, ordinary family, there was nothing strange about them,” she told the Sun.
Pamela Cane, 77, who lives in the area, described them as ‘the perfect family’.
‘I can not believe it. “The arrest is more shocking because he is a police officer,” she said.
Murder investigators are leading the investigation, which is still being treated as an investigation into missing persons.
“This is definitely an investigation into missing persons at the moment, but I remain open-minded about all the possibilities in the investigation,” Goodwin said.