The London police officer who was arrested in the disappearance of a 33-year-old woman has been identified as Wayne Couzens – whose duties include protecting the royal family, a report said.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that one of them was arrested late Tuesday at his home in Kent on suspicion of kidnapping.
The department added on Wednesday that Couzens is also being held on suspicion of murder and indecent exposure, the Sun reported.
The father of two, 48, is a diplomatic protection police officer in Westminster, according to the report.
Sarah Everard, a marketing manager, went missing on March 3 after leaving a friend’s house. She was last seen that night around 9:30 pm via a doorbell camera in Clapham, southwest London, the BBC reported.
Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin called Couzens’ arrest “a significant development” in the probe and said investigators were doing everything they could to find Everard.
Couzens, whose job was to protect members of the royal family at public events, joined the force about 10 years ago after previously working at a garage company, the Sun said.
“It’s really shocking that he has been arrested for Sarah’s disappearance,” a former colleague told the news outlet of the officer whose locker at the police station at the Palace of Westminster was searched.
Neighbor David Ladd, 48, told the sun that Tuesday night he escorted a handcuffed Couzens “into the back of a police car.”
A woman believed to be his partner was also arrested at the same location on suspicion of assisting a perpetrator, according to the report.
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 Wednesday, “we really hope” Everard is still alive as the search continued.
“Tonight’s arrest is a serious and important development,” said Ephgrave.
“We will continue to work on this investigation with all speed, but the fact that the arrested man is a serving Metropolitan Police officer is both shocking and deeply disturbing,” he said.
The missing woman’s cousin, Tom Everard, expressed hope that the arrest will help police track her down.
“I understand there will be major public concern, but it is essential that the research team is given the time and space to continue with their work,” added Ephgrave.
“We hope this development will provide new information, but the police still need help to find Sarah and get her home safely,” he said, according to the Sun.
Meanwhile, one of Couzens’ neighbors said the officer lives with his “talkative” wife and two children.
“They just seemed like a normal regular family, there was nothing strange about them at all,” she told the 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 detectives are leading the probe, which is still being treated as a missing persons investigation, the outlet reported.
“This is definitely a missing persons investigation at this point, but I remain open to any possibilities in the investigation,” Goodwin said.