area. Some members of the press were beaten while government supporters threatened to cut water and power supply to the building. Journalists and members of the media were held captive by the pro-government public for more than four hours without any intervention from the National Guard in the area. Aftermath The next day on 28 June, Vice President Tareck El Aissami reported that the helicopter used in the attack had been found in Osma, Vargas, a rural town northeast of Caracas, and that although special forces were deployed into the area, no perpetrators were arrested. The aircraft was only located after a local farmer, Reinaldo Reyes Castillo, reported that he found the helicopter had landed on his land. Reyes Castillo was later arrested and sentenced in a military court to be imprisoned in Ramo Verde Prison, a military prison where several opposition members and protesters are held prisoner. Colonel Vladimir Lugo Armas, the National Guardsman who had confronted National Assembly speaker Julio Borges shortly after the helicopter incident, was decorated with the Cross of the Presidential Guard and the National Guard Medal of Merit Honor by President Maduro on 29 June. While speaking during the ceremony at the Theater of the Military Academy in Caracas, Maduro acknowledged Colonel Lugo's "security services within the facilities of the Federal Legislative Palace". On 2 July, Pérez's helicopter mechanic, Juan Carlos Cutilla, was arrested by SEBIN officers, with authorities saying he was the last known person to have contact with Pérez before the incident. On 4 July, Oscar Pérez, the helicopter's pilot, reappeared on social media commenting on the flight, protests and potential actions in the future. Pérez began by stating that the attack was planned to only strike fear as a "first phase" because the group did not consist of "murderers", further saying that President Maduro and his fellow government official Diosdado Cabello were the ones who murdered Venezuelans. He stated that he had to make an emergency landing and spend days in El Ávila National Park, eventually making it back to Caracas. Pérez then called for further protests, explaining that a "second phase" was to begin in collaboration with Venezuelans, telling them that they "are not alone" in the streets. The day after Pérez reappeared from hiding, Venezuela's Independence Day, the National Assembly congregated on 5 July to commemorate the signing of the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence. Their event was interrupted by