Police say it was not luck or pressure from the Americans that drove their operations and capture of accused murder fugitive Dwight Henry.
Twenty-five-year-old Henry, who was charged for the murders of two US missionaries April 30, 2016 was recaptured Thursday night, January 26, 2017.
Henry escaped from the Port Maria Hospital on Wednesday, January 4, after he was taken there, following complaints that he was ill.
His escape led to an announcement days later that two senior officers — one of them in charge of the parish DSP Dwight Powel — were to be transferred. A new officer, superintendent Fabian Farquharson has taken charge of the parish.
Head of Area 2, ACP Fitz Bailey told members of the media, Friday, that Powell was held in a car on a bridge near Annotto Bay, St Mary about 10 p.m. Thursday. He said others in the car were to be questioned to determine if they were harbouring a fugitive.
ACP Bailey, surrounded by senior officers at the Tower Isle based Area 2 HQ refused to give details about the capture, stating only that police had been determined that the fugitive Henry should not have been harmed. He said Henry did not have a weapon at the time of his arrest.
The senior cop said it was not luck that led to the recapture of Henry. He said he had put together a fugitive apprehension team that had done more than 80 operations including vehicular check points, raids patrols and community meeting. He said the JDF had even supported on two occasions. He listed several districts all over St Mary where the team had gone in search of Henry.
Mr Bailey said the operations had been successful, even before Henry’s recapture, in finding three men — two who were wanted in other parishes and one alleged lottery scammer.
Asked if there was pressure from United States law enforcement, which had provided help for local police in the investigations, the ACP said, “We are not in any way pressured by external bodies to do our job.”
He said he had used his own experience and training to help position the team, and it had been well supported by senior officers in Area 2, including from St Ann.
Henry has since been charged with escaping custody and is expected in court in February on the murder charge.
