Moment Pennsylvania official is confronted over cops lining up to pose with escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante - and bats away criticism as he praises them for 'keeping the community safe'

A Pennsylvania top cop defended the state's officers after they were seen parading  escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante as a trophy after his capture on Wednesday, which followed a two-week manhunt.

Dozens of SWAT members proudly posed with the bloodied 34-year-old killer after a K-9 subdued him. Cavancante escaped from jail on August 31 - just days after he was convicted to life in prison for brutally murdering his ex-girlfriend in 2021. 

'You know, I’m aware that there was a photo op that was taken out there,' Lt. Col. George Bivens replied after a reporter confronted him about the photo op, asking whether it was standard procedure.

'Those men and women worked amazingly hard through some very trying circumstances. They’re proud of their work. 

'I’m not bothered at all that they took a photograph with him in custody. Again, they’re proud of their work, they kept the community safe. I say thanks to them and good job.'

Police are seen posing with killer Danelo Cavalcante after his capture on Wednesday

Lt. Col. George Bivens defended the photo op on Wednesday

Escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante has been captured, police said on Wednesday morning

About 25 officers were able to surprise the convict as they surrounded him on Wednesday morning. Officials then released a police dog to capture the killer, who was bitten on the scalp and treated for the injury at the scene, police said. 

Bivens stood by officers as questions emerged about why it took so long to find Cavalcante, who was described as armed and dangerous.

Police had at first focused in the perimeter near the prison, but expanded the search over the weekend after Cavalcante was seen outside the designated area, leading to questions about how he slipped by the more than 500 officers patrolling the area.

Authorities have declined to say how they think Cavalcante slipped out of the first search area, and officials had pushed back against questions about whether they blew a chance at that time to catch him.

Bivens added: 'There will always be people who think they can do this job better, and they’re entitled to that opinion. What I will tell you is, again, I put my faith in this group of experts and this group of seasoned, law enforcement professionals, the dedicated men and women, not only of the Pennsylvania State Police, but of all of the other partner agencies who went out there every day. 

'I’ll put my money on them any day of the week, and I believe the community supported them and continues to.'

The killer's capture, which took about five minutes, brings relief to anxious residents of southeastern Pennsylvania who endured sleepless nights as he hid in the woods, broke into suburban homes for food, changed his appearance, and fled under gunfire with a rifle pilfered from a garage.

Authorities used thermal imaging from an aircraft to pinpoint a possible location and then used ground forces to capture Cavalcante

About 25 officers were able to surprise him as they surrounded him on Wednesday morning, but Cavalcante, who was wearing a Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt, tried to escape again by crawling through underbrush with the rifle he stole from a home he broke into on Monday.

Officials then released a police dog to capture the killer, who was bitten on the scalp and treated for the injury at the scene, police said. After a bloodied Cavalcante was captured, the SWAT officers in the search team paraded him like a trophy and lined up for a photo with him around 8am EST.

The Brazilian, who is in the US illegally, was arrested in a wooded area near South Coventry Township, inside the updated perimeter set up by police this week. He had reportedly been hiding with the rifle when he was found under a pile of logs.

People had the 'intent and intended to assist' Cavalcante during his time on the run, Bivens said Wednesday, but authorities thwarted those attempts. He did not elaborate or say anyone had been charged criminally. 

Cavalcante received a life sentence in n August for killing his ex-girlfriend, Deborah Brandao, in front of her children in 2021. Prosecutors say he wanted to stop her from telling police he was wanted in the Brazil killing. He had been arrested in Virginia after Brandao’s killing, and authorities say they believe he was trying to return to Brazil.

About 25 officers were able to surprise him as they surrounded him, but Cavalcante still tried to escape again by crawling through tall grass with the rifle

The prison tower guard on duty when Cavalcante escaped was fired. The escape went undetected for more than an hour until guards took a headcount.

The killer's capture, which took about five minutes, brings relief to anxious residents of southeastern Pennsylvania who endured sleepless nights as he hid in the woods, broke into suburban homes for food, changed his appearance, and fled under gunfire with a rifle pilfered from a garage.

Authorities used thermal imaging from an aircraft to pinpoint a possible location and then used ground forces to capture Cavalcante, State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said on Wednesday.

An aircraft picked up a hear source on Tuesday night, but officials had to delay the operation after a storm moved in, with a ground team staying in the area overnight.

After the capture, he was taken to a nearby state police barracks in an armored vehicle surrounded by a dozen-vehicle convoy with lights flashing and sirens blaring as it traveled down the highway. Two police helicopters followed above.

Cavalcante was arraigned at the Avondale barracks on an escape charge, according to the office of Judge Matthew Seavey. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for September 27. He was to be driven to a state prison to continue serving the life sentence he received last month for killing his ex-girlfriend.