By Father-of-two Met police officer is arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder of missing Sarah Everard.
Wayne Couzens, 48, was being held today by colleagues in London in connection with the week-long missing persons investigation.
Couzens, who is a Westminster-based diplomatic protection officer and has to be armed for his job, was originally arrested for the kidnap of Sarah last night, but was re-arrested today on suspicion of her murder.
The Met said in a statement: ‘A man arrested in connection with the disappearance of Sarah Everard remains in custody at a London police station.
‘The man, who is aged in his 40s, was arrested on the evening of March 9 on suspicion of kidnap. Today he has been further arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure.
‘The man is a serving Metropolitan Police officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command. His primary role was uniformed patrol duties of diplomatic premises.
‘A woman, who is aged in her 30s, was also arrested on the evening of March 9 on suspicion of assisting an offender. She remains in custody.
Suspect Wayne Couzens
‘Officers are searching locations in London and Kent including a property in Deal and an area of woodland near Ashford.
‘Following the arrest of the police officer, the Metropolitan Police has made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.’
The garden of Wayne Couzens’ home in Deal has been sealed off and teams are thought to be digging it up as an abandoned leisure complex is also scoured.
Sarah, 33
Sarah has been described as “beautiful, thoughtful and incredibly kind”.
She was last seen a week ago in Clapham, south London, on her way home from a friend’s house last Wednesday.
Ms Everard, who is originally from York and attended Durham University, was last seen wearing a green rain jacket, navy blue trousers with a white diamond pattern, and turquoise and orange trainers. She is thought to have been wearing green earphones and a white beanie hat.
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