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 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, Sun reported.
The father of two children, 48, is a Westminster diplomatic police officer, according to the report.
Sarah Everard, a marketing director, disappeared on March 3 after leaving a friend’s house. She was last seen around 9.30pm that night with a bell camera in Clapham, south-west 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 duties involved protecting royal family members at public events, joined the force about 10 years ago after previously working in a garage repair business, according to Sun.
“It’s really shocking that he was arrested because of Sarah’s disappearance,” said a former media colleague about the police officer, whose locker at the Westminster Palace police station was searched.
Neighbor David Ladd, 48, told the sun he saw a Couzens with a cuff “escorted behind a police car” on Tuesday night.
A woman believed to be his partner was also arrested at the same location on suspicion of assisting a criminal, according to the report.
Couzens’ stepmother, Corrine Couzens, told Sun she couldn’t comment, but added, “I’m aware of what’s going on.”
Assistant Police Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said on Wednesday that he “really hopes” that Everard is still alive as the investigation continues.
“Tonight’s arrest is a serious and significant development,” Ephgrave said.
“We will continue to work at full speed 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 that there will be significant public concern, but it is essential that the investigation team be given the time and space to continue their work,” Ephgrave added.
“We hope this development will bring new information, but the police still need help to find Sarah and bring 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 looked like a normal, ordinary family, there was nothing strange about them,” she told the sun.
Pamela Cane, 77, who lives nearby, described them as “the perfect family.”
“I can’t believe it. The arrest is more shocking because he is a police officer, “she said.
The homicide investigators are conducting the investigation, which is still being treated as a missing person investigation, the media reported.
“This is certainly an investigation into the missing person at this time, but I remain open-minded about all the possibilities in the investigation,” Goodwin said.