One Man Charged in Kimmie’s Bar Arson…

Francisco Rodriguez

The arrest of Edwin Flores resulted in the arrest of another Honduran national, Francisco Rodriguez. On June twenty-five, a massive early morning fire on Newtown Barracks gutted two massive wooden buildings and tragically ended the life of twenty-one year old Jacqueline Arteaga. The mother of three children was pregnant and trapped in the upper flat of Kimmie’s Bar; she perished in the inferno. It’s more than a month since the fire, and police finally have made a break. Officer Commanding the Crimes Investigation Branch, Superintendent Hilberto Romero says that the Arteaga’s cousin, Rodriguez, is the prime suspect of the arson and her death. Rodriguez, according to the police, confessed to the arson.  He was detained while he was with Flores, who, as you know, was arrested for the blackmail of an Orange Walk businessman.

Supt. Hilberto Romero, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City

Hilberto Romero

“Francisco Rodriguez was wanted in Benque for robbery with firearm. As a result he was taken there. He was charged and taken to court and he pled guilty and was sentenced to five years. Further investigation was conducted on Francisco Rodriguez, statements were recorded which led police again to prepare a file and that is in regard to the death of one Jacqueline—this is the fire that occurred at Newtown Barracks where fire buildings were destroyed and this female had died in the fire. Again, we will charge Francisco Rodriguez for Arson and Manslaughter regarding that fire. He was found along with the blackmail suspect, Edwin Flores, at the time of the detention, he was along with this person. Again based on information that we received, he was interviewed based on that crime and as a result, he made a confession that led to the file being sent and a directive for him to be charged.”