BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WHILE the cause is still under investigation, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has indicated that it does not suspect the fire that engulfed the vehicle of former Deputy Premier Hensley Daniel’s vehicle was maliciously set.
The crime-fighting organisation issued a press release last evening (Sept 29), which stated that both fire and police officers responded to a call which took them to Daniel’s home where they found his motor vehicle ablaze in his yard.
The incident occurred sometime between 12:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. that day.
“During the night of Saturday 29th, September, 2012 police and firefighters were called to the home of Deputy Premier (DP) Hensley Daniels with regards to a vehicle on fire. DP Hensley stated that he arrived home shortly before 1 a.m. and secured his vehicle for the night. Within fifteen minutes of his arrival, a neighbor notified him that his vehicle was on fire.
“The fire department was called to the scene while DP Hensley attempted to extinguish the flames with a water hose. It was during this time the fire temperature rose to a point where certain items under the hood, along with the tires, exploded. The flames were extinguished by the Nevis Division of the Federation’s Fire and Rescue Service.”
The police communique further explained that Commissioner of Police CelvinWalwyn, the Bomb Squad and others conducted investigations into incident. The cause of the fire is yet unknown but the police have indicated that arson is not suspected.
“Commissioner Walwyn and members of the Police Force’s Bomb Squad from St. Kitts responded to the scene in Nevis. With the assistance of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) agency out of Miami, an investigation was conducted.
“Initial investigations have ruled out that the fire was maliciously set. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by Nevis CID with the assistance of ATF and a full report will be released to the media when the investigation is complete. The preliminary findings at this time do not support arson and there was no bomb. The investigation continues.”
