Wanted Fugitive Hid Out in Town's Nativity Scene. Then The Mayor Spotted Him
NEED TO KNOW
- Italian Mayor Flavio Filoni noticed a figure in a Nativity scene that he initially believed was part of the display
- Police identified the 38-year-old man as a fugitive wanted by authorities
- Local police, state police and Carabinieri assisted in locating and apprehending the man
A 38-year-old man who was wanted by police was arrested after allegedly hiding inside a life-size Nativity scene in southern Italy.
The man was discovered on Dec. 6 after Galatone Mayor Flavio Filoni noticed something unusual while walking past the display in Piazza Santissimo Crocifisso, according to Euronews, ITV News and La Repubblica.
“While standing in front of the Nativity carefully made by our Pro Loco, I noticed a presence I had initially mistaken for part of the scene,” Filoni wrote in a Facebook post. “A detail that seemed innocuous, but turned out to be decisive.”
The Times of London reported that the 38-year-old from Ghana had previously gone missing in Bologna. Euronews reported that he had been ordered to serve nine months and 15 days for resisting a public official and aggravated assault, but went missing after sentencing.
Filoni said he initially believed the figure was simply part of the Nativity display before realizing it was a real person, according to the outlets.
Police responded and identified the man as a fugitive wanted by authorities, per Euronews, The Times and ITV.
“A result that confirms, once again, how fundamental it is to place full confidence in the day-to-day work of those who guarantee safety and legality,” Filoni wrote.
The mayor thanked officers from Galatone and nearby Nardò and said the incident reflected how closely the community works with law enforcement.
“Galatone is a community that observes, collaborates and cares: this is how you build security, together,” he wrote.
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