Two police officers in Uruguay jailed pending investigation into teen's death after chase

Two police officers in Colonia, Uruguay, have been formally charged and placed in pre-trial detention for 180 days as part of an investigation into the death of a 19-year-old man. The incident occurred last October during a police chase in Nueva Helvecia.

The victim, identified by local media as Matías Presa, died several days after being hospitalized. He was being pursued by a patrol car after fleeing a police checkpoint on his motorcycle. The chase concluded when Presa collided with another officer's motorcycle at the intersection of 18 de Julio and Guillermo Greising, resulting in serious injuries to both.

The officer driving the patrol car has been charged with simple homicide, abuse of functions, and falsification of public documents. His partner, who was a passenger in the patrol car, faces the same charges as a co-author. The Rosario District Court issued the charges and the pre-trial detention measure.

Additionally, three other police officers from the department were subjected to restrictive measures, including a ban on leaving the country and contacting Presa's family. These officers are under investigation for alleged involvement in a cover-up related to the incident.