Right now, police investigators from Punta Gorda Town are trying to get to the bottom of 2 separate vehicle fires which were intentionally set by mischievous arsonists.
The vehicle owners parked their vehicles at their home, believing that their property was safe. Bu they were awakened to find their vehicles being destroyed by fire. A third vehicle owner in PG would have suffered the same fate, but fortunately, his dogs woke him up in time to put out the material which was lit on fire and placed near to his vehicle's tire, by someone who was trying to set it ablaze.
Assistant Police Commissioner Joseph Myvette, the Head of the National Criminal Investigations Branch told us more about the incident at today's press briefing:
ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"Since yesterday, there have been 2 vehicle fires, and 1 attempt to burn a vehicle. 3 reports were made to Punta Gorda Police, the first being that, on Yesterday's day, 1 Christon Foster, of a Joe Taylor Creek address, reported to police that on the 5th of February, he parked his grey Ford Fusion car inside his yard. And on yesterday morning, sometime around 5 a.m., when he woke up, he saw smoke coming from his vehicle, and realized that the vehicle was on fire. The vehicle was completely destroyed by fire. At this point in time, he does not have any suspects, and neither any disputes with anyone whom he believes could have caused the fire. During the Second incident, also on yesterday morning, one Patrick Avila reported to police that he is of a Jose Maria Nunez Street in Punta Gorda. He reported to police that he parked his Ford F-150 red pickup truck inside yard on the 5th of February, and sometime around 5 a.m. on yesterday morning, also, his vehicle was found to be partially destroyed by fire. He too has no suspect in relation to the cause of the fire of his vehicle. And on a third incident, 1 Burlington Jones of a Cero Road address in Punta Gorda, reported to police that he parked his green Kia Sportage in the yard of 1 Angel Veras, located in the same Cero Road area. Mr. Mira was awaked by his dogs barking, and when he came out, he noticed that an attempt was made to light the Kia Sportage on fire, as a piece of bicycle tube was found at the rear right back wheel of the vehicle already on fire. However, he managed to extinguish the fire, and also, he has no suspects in connection with the fire, and neither does he have any dispute with anyone with anyone who he believes would have caused the fire."
So, since none of the vehicle owners have any idea who would intentionally want to destroy their property, police are considering the possibility that these 2 fires, and the third attempt at arson may be connected. Here's what Myvette had to say on that topic:
Reporter
"Can you speak about the location of these fires, and if it is believed that it might be 1 perpetrator who may have been involved in all 3 cases?"
ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"At this point in time, we're still trying to determine that. The 3 different locations are roughly over a mile apart from each other."
Reporter
"But at this time, do investigators have reason to suspect a connection between all three?"
ACP Joseph Myvette
"Well, we are following that angle to see whether or not they are all connected."
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