Bellrock arsonist still on the run

The man who burned down several houses in Bellrock, St Andrew, out of frustration over his girlfriend’s infidelity, is still on the run from police almost a month later.

St Andrew South Police Commander, Superintendent Damion Manderson told the Jamaica Observer that despite numerous operations aimed at arresting the culprit, now wanted in two police divisions, the cops had difficulty locating him. Manderson believes he is protected by his parents and friends.

The arsonist is being sought by the St Andrew South and St Andrew North police divisions.

“We have carried out several operations inside and outside the division and other activities. We were unable to locate him. This is mainly because there are people in our society who seem to benefit from colluding with and protecting criminal elements. It is abundantly clear that this is a young man who committed atrocious acts by burning down an entire section of a community, making threats against citizens and their family members, and committing a host of other crimes,” Manderson said.

The police commissioner said the man “is wanted for various offenses and is known in the communities we have defined in the past. Yet the level of cooperation and support needed for people to call our confidential lines – 911 and 311 – or contact someone like a pastor, lawyer or justice of the peace to bring him into court has not evolved as we have. would have liked it. we anticipated.”

Despite the challenges, Manderson told the Observer the police are confident they will take him into custody in due course.

“We are confident that when the time comes, we will take him into custody,” he said.

The man in question got angry and set fire to the house belonging to his girlfriend’s relatives. The fire quickly spread to other nearby homes, ultimately destroying them and displacing more than 30 people, including more than 10 children.

Bellrock is located in the St Andrew West Central constituency, represented by Prime Minister Andrew Holness who, during a visit to the area following the fire, said all measures of justice must be taken against the guilty.

A few days after news of his actions began circulating on all media platforms, the culprit called the Jamaica Observer and expressed his intention to turn himself in to the police, but said at the time that he was not ready to do so because he feared he would go crazy in prison.

He said he was beyond frustrated because he worked very hard to support his girlfriend and claimed she was not only cheating on him, but giving his hard-earned money to another man.

“I try not to think about these things before incarnating because I can’t go to prison with these things on my mind; I’m going crazy. When you’re with someone for a long time, it’s hard to leave. Every day I warn the girl and catch her doing what she’s not supposed to do. I told her to stop doing what she was doing because she was going to bring the devil out of me. I warned her, and each time she said she wasn’t doing anything. She’s been doing this for a long time, uh. It hurts a little, because I’m going there to get mine and come give it to him.

“Even if she had sex alone (with the other man), it wouldn’t burn me as much; I know it’s my money that she takes and gives to the boy. It licks my head and I go dark like I have no sense. This stuff is really hurtful. Jah know the star, just ’cause I’m getting ignorant. When things hurt me in a certain way, I darken to the point where I don’t want to hear anything anymore and I just do what I have to do. I warned this girl. I give him a lot of chances and let him know that no one is perfect,” he said.