Colombian prosecutors released a 36-year-old U.S. citizen arrested after a viral video showed him holding a child on a Bogotá balcony; investigators concluded there was no sexual abuse or physical violence. President Gustavo Petro said the man "apparently did not" abuse the child and suggested the footage may have been manipulated. Three children found in the apartment were medically evaluated and placed in state care pending the investigation. Officials warned against aggressive, assumption-driven social media reactions and stressed continued vigilance against sex tourism.
U.S. Citizen Released in Bogotá After Viral Balcony Video; Prosecutors Say No Evidence of Abuse
Colombian authorities have released a 36-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas after he was arrested on Sunday following widespread social media footage that appeared to show him holding a child on a balcony in northern Bogotá. Prosecutors said an official review found no evidence of sexual abuse or physical violence and that no criminal charges would be filed.
Official Findings and Response
An official document from the prosecutor's office, reported by Noticias Caracol and cited by CBS News, concluded there "had been no sexual abuse and no physical violence" and that there was "no evidence indicating criminal conduct." Colombia's National Institute of Legal Medicine reportedly found no signs of sexual violence after evaluating the children.
What the Video Showed and Public Reaction
A video that circulated widely on social media shows a man holding a child near a balcony railing at a residential building in an upscale northern Bogotá neighborhood. In the clip, bystanders can be heard shouting, "He's abusing the child, let him go!" Dozens of people subsequently gathered at the building entrance demanding the man's arrest.
Statements From Officials
Bogotá Mayor Carlos Galán confirmed police had taken a person into custody. President Gustavo Petro later posted on X that the man "apparently did not" abuse any children and said the child had been taken to the balcony because he was choking on food. Petro also suggested the possibility that social media footage may have been altered or amplified by artificial intelligence and "computer manipulation."
"Given the speed with which we were able to respond, any form of sexual violence against the three children has been ruled out," said Asrid Cáceres, director of the Colombian Family Welfare Institute, in an interview with Noticias Caracol (translated).
Children's Welfare and Ongoing Precautions
When officers entered the apartment, they found three children who were taken to a medical center for evaluation. Authorities said the children appeared calm and consistent in their accounts, and they were placed temporarily under the care of Colombia's child-protection agency while the review continued. Sources told CBS News that the man may have adopted the children, which could explain why they were in his custody.
Broader Context
Colombian officials noted that a number of high-profile cases in recent years involving foreigners exploiting children have heightened vigilance against sex tourism. Authorities reported turning away roughly 100 foreigners suspected of traveling for sex tourism during the first half of 2026.
Sources: Noticias Caracol, CBS News, official statements from the prosecutor's office and Colombia's Family Welfare Institute.
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