BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONE man is currently in custody assisting police with their investigations into the early morning fire at the residence of an elderly man in Tabernacle which occurred on Thursday (Jan. 5).
According to Inspector Vaughan Henderson, Sub-Divisional Commander for District ‘B’, following a report made by Samuel ‘Old Oak’ Smithen of Mission Street, Tabernacle, investigators had processed the scene of the fire and one suspect was held yesterday (Jan. 6) and taken into custody.
Henderson noted that so far no charges have been laid against the man as investigations are ongoing.
At approximately 1:45 a.m. on Thursday, Smithen was awakened from his slumber by a strange sound to find the door to his bedroom was on fire.
SKNVibes visited Smithen’s home at about 11:00 a.m. on Thursday and found the 78-year-old and his daughter, Linda Lowry, on the verandah examining the damage done to his bedroom door.
“This morning at approximately 1:45 while I was sleeping I heard a whooshing sound coming from the verandah. I immediately opened my eyes and saw the door and the inner entrance to my bedroom was on fire.
“I opened the door, ran through the flames and into my kitchen, where I collected two large plastic bottles that were filled with water and put out the fire. After putting out the fire, I carefully examined the door and inside the bedroom to see what damage was done.
“I found that the outer part of the door was badly scorched and a part of the floor on the inside was also scorched as the carpet was on fire. My cap and slippers were destroyed by the fire. Were I not a light sleeper, I may have died this morning,” Smithen said.
Smithen also said that on examination of the door and other areas on the verandah, signs of an oily substance were present which he believed was ignited by match or a lighter, “and that had caused the whooshing sound”.
The septuagenarian indicated that shortly before 2:00 a.m. he had called a female friend, who is a member of the Federation’s Police Force, and informed her of the incident and requested that she notify the police.
He shortly thereafter called his daughter and informed her of the situation.
Smithen noted that on three occasions individuals had phoned for the police, but it took a male officer approximately one hour to arrive at his residence from the Tabernacle Police Station which is no more that 600 metres from where he lives.
“The officer took a statement from me and, even though I did not see the person who set the fire, I suspected one individual and I gave the officer his name. The officer said that the Sergeant who is in charge of the Tabernacle Police Station was not there, but when he arrives he would inform him and return to my residence. It is now 11:05 and I am still waiting for them.”
This media house visited the station at approximately 11:30 a.m. and was told by a junior rank that the Sergeant was at a lecture at Force Headquarters in Basseterre.
The officer also said they knew of the incident and it was currently under investigation.
Inspector Henderson however told this media house this afternoon that later on that day he and an investigating team had visited Smithen’s residence, from where they launched an investigation which resulted in the apprehension of the suspect.
On December 6, 2010, an armed man had entered Smithen’s home while he was seated in his living room.
The man demanded money from Smithen and gun-butted him in the head during the process, which caused him to have eight stitches. However, Smithen loudly cried out for help and neighbours immediately went to his assistance but the gunman fled the scene.
Smithen allegedly recognised the gunman and a report was made at the Tabernacle Police Station.
The suspect was arrested, charged with the offence, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on September 9, 2011 and the case is scheduled for hearing at the High Court sometime this month.
It is not known if the man under arrest is the same person who had gun-butted Smithen in his attempt to rob him.
