A man has been arrested for trying to extinguish the Olympic torch by throwing a bucket of water over it as it passed through the Brazilian town of Maracaju.
Police have charged the 27-year-old for damaging public property. Footage shows that the Olympic flame continued to burn.
The crime can carry a sente nce of between six months and three years in prison.
A police spokesperson says the man claims he was dared to pull the stunt on Facebook.
“He said it was a joke, a dare on Facebook,” the officer in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul said by telephone. He declined to give his name as he is not permitted to talk publicly.
Local Olympic organizing committee Rio 2016 did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A video of the incident available on YouTube shows a heavy spray of water thrown indiscriminately over a group around the torch bearer by someone out of view.
He was freed on bail after paying 1,000 reais ($294.74).
The incident comes a week after a jaguar was shot and killed after performing in an Olympic torch ceremony leading to an outcry by animal rights activists around the world.
The torch is on a 20-thousand kilometre voyage through about 300 Brazilian cities and towns before arriving in Rio de Janeiro.
