‘Troubled child’ suspected in fire that leaves St Mary man homeless
ST MARY, Jamaica – A troubled child is said to be responsible for a fire which left an elderly man homeless in St Mary on Saturday.
Reports are that around 8:40 am, firefighters responded to a blaze at a nine-room apartment dwelling in the Boscobel Housing scheme.
According to officials from the fire department, no one was injured during the blaze. However, one man was left homeless.
It is suspected that a child, who was reportedly seen running from the site of the blaze, started the fire.
OBSERVER ONLINE reached out to Head of the St Mary Police Division, Superintendent Bobette Morgan-Simpson, who confirmed that a 10- year-old boy had attended the station with his grandmother.
Morgan-Simpson explained that because he is a minor, the child could not be held culpable.
“The incident took place today, it involved a 10-year-old. He cannot be charged because he is only 10 years-old,” she said.
“He is a troubled child. He is under the watch of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA); in fact, there is someone that is assigned to him. The agency has been engaged in the matter,” she added.
The minimum age of criminal responsibility in Jamaica is 12 years old.