The London police officer arrested in the disappearance of a 33-year-old woman was identified as Wayne Couzens – whose duties include protecting the royal family, according to a report.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that one of his own was arrested on Tuesday at his Kent home on suspicion of kidnapping.
The department added on Wednesday that Couzens is also being held on suspicion of murder and indecent exposure, Sun reported.
The father of two, 48, is a Westminster-based diplomatic protection officer, according to the report.
Sarah Everard, a marketing executive, disappeared on March 3, after leaving a friend’s house. She was last seen around 9:30 pm that night, through a doorbell camera in Clapham, southwest London, the BBC reported.
Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin called Couzens’ arrest “a significant development” in the investigation and said investigators were doing everything they could to find Everard.
Couzens, whose job involved protecting members of the royal family at public events, joined the force about 10 years ago, after previously working at a garage repair shop, according to Sun.
“It is really shocking that he was arrested for Sarah’s disappearance,” a former colleague told the news agency about the policeman, whose locker at the Palace of Westminster police station was being searched.
Neighbor David Ladd, 48, told Sun that he saw a handcuffed Couzens being “escorted into a police car” Tuesday night.
A woman believed to be his partner was also arrested at the same location on suspicion of helping an attacker, according to the report.
Couzens’ stepmother Corrine Couzens told Sun she could not comment, but added: “I am aware of what is going on.”
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 significant event,” said Ephgrave.
“We will continue to work quickly on this investigation, but the fact that the arrested man is a Metropolitan Police officer on duty is shocking and deeply disturbing,” he said.
The missing woman’s cousin, Tom Everard, expressed his hope that the prison will help the police locate her.
“I understand that there will be significant public concern, but it is essential that the investigative team has time and space to continue its work,” added Ephgrave.
“We hope this development will bring new information, but the police still need help finding Sarah and taking her home safely,” he said, according to Sun.
Meanwhile, one of Couzens’ neighbors said the policeman lives with his “talkative” wife and two children.
“They just looked like a normal, regular family, there was nothing strange about them,” she told Sun.
Pamela Cane, 77, who lives nearby, described them as “the perfect family”.
“I can not believe this. The arrest is more shocking because he is a police officer, ”she said.
Homicide investigators are conducting the investigation, which is still being treated as a missing person investigation, the media reported.
“This is definitely a missing person investigation at the moment, but I remain open-minded about all the possibilities of the investigation,” said Goodwin.