Television news can be a competitive business.

Many journalists do whatever they can to get an edge up on the competition.

In Brazil, one popular TV crime reporter had managed to find a way to get cameras to the crime scenes even before the police.

It seemed that, instead of just reporting on crime, he was creating it.

This is Monsters. Wallace Sousa was born on August 12, 1958 in Manouse, Brazil. Manouse in the Brazilian state of

Amazonis had become known for its location on a drug trafficking route and excessive violent

crime at the hands of gangs. At 19, Wallace became a police officer, but he was eventually

fired when he was arrested for pension fraud

and for stealing fuel. After that, he decided to try to fight crime another way and started a

television crime show. Wallace launched Canal Ivre in 1996, a program that would transform him

into a household name throughout Manaus.

The show quickly established itself as investigative journalism aimed at fighting crime and social injustice,

earning Wallace the reputation as the region's most vocal crime fighter.

Canal Livre employed a distinctive format that captivated audiences across the Amazonas state.

Viewers tuned in to watch Wallace and his team conduct police raids, chase criminals and

helicopters, and arrive at crime scenes with remarkable speed. The program's popularity soared,

ultimately becoming the most watched news show in Amazonis.

Wallace deliberately cultivated his image as the defender of the public,

confronting criminals on camera with righteous indignation.

In one memorable broadcast, he confronted an alleged murderer with the accusation,

quote, you murdered a citizen in front of a child.

His theatrical approach to crime reporting resonated with audiences frustrated by the region's

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