MARACAJU, Brazil, June 28 (UPI) -- A man has been arrested after trying to throw a bucket of water on the Olympic flame and douse it as it went by on Monday.
Marcelino Mateus Silva Proença, 27, told police he had acted on a dare. The man completely missed the torch, hitting the runner and security guards instead as they ran past in the Brazilian city of Maracaju.
The Olympic torch relay crosses 12,400 miles and travels through 300 Brazilian cities before the flame is brought into Rio de Janeiro for the Games opening ceremony.
It's more bad press for the event, coming a week after a rare jaguar being used in the relay was shot and killed after it escaped from its handlers.
Police wouldn't say if the man acted on any political motivation.
He was charged with intent to cause material harm and was released on $295 bail. Though the man seemed to enjoy the publicity, if he is convicted, he could face between six months and three years in prison.
