Son Attacks Father before Burning Down House

Fitzroy Yearwood

A man is in police custody following a fire in Dangriga on Saturday night. A reportedly intoxicated Michael Flores visited his father’s house in the Wagierale area of the town. They got into an argument before the twenty-four-year-old took out a machete and attacked his father, fifty-one-year-old Santos Flores. Flores believes that his son then set the house on fire, before escaping from the area. A.S.P. Fitzroy Yearwood shares more details on the alleged arson.

A.S.P. Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department

“Police responded to a fire in the Wagierale area in Dangriga where they spoke to the owner of a residence, Mister Santos Flores. He reported that his son arrived at his residence under the influence of alcohol. He assaulted his father with a machete and then set the house on fire. His son was detained by Dangriga police pending charges. Of course, we have to wait for the fire department to give us an official cause of that fire then we will know which direction the investigation will go from there.”

Duane Moody

“But at this time it is suspected to be an arson?”

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

“An alleged arson.”

Reporter

“What’s the status of Mister Santos?”

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

“Mister Santos is in a stable condition because he already gave a statement to the police. So like I said, we just have to wait for the fire department and then we will know which direction we will go from there.”

The house was extensively damaged and neither the building nor its contents were insured.