Police in Tonga’s Vavaʻu islands are struggling to apprehend the US alleged murderer who was charged with the murder of his Canadian wife in Vavaʻu in June.
54 year old Dean Jay Fletcher escaped from police custody at Vavaʻu Police Station at approximately 3.30am yesterday, 29 September 2016, a Police statement said.
Police confirmed Fletcher has used his own yacht to enable his escape.
“At 06.00am Police on board the Police Boat “Kapakau ‘O Tafahi” located the escaped prisoner and his yacht at approximately 6 – 10 miles Northwest of Vavaʻu and are attempting to apprehend him”, the statement said.
“The escaped prisoner is refusing to stop and making threats to himself and police officers, which has not allowed for a safe boarding at this stage. Further assistance has been dispatched to the area.
“Commissioner Steve Caldwell says that the full circumstances of Fletcher’s escape will be investigated but at this stage our priority is to safely apprehend and return Mr. Fletcher to custody”.