US murder accused

Police seek help to locate yacht with escaped prisoner on board

Escaped prisoner, Dean Jay Fletcher had fired several flares at the police boat in a 5-hour standoff.

A police statement said Fletcher was believed to be holding a bottle of benzene liquid and threatened to set fire to the police boat with the use of the inflammable benzene and flares.

The police were not in a position to counter the threat and did not have the capacity to maintain the pursuit in open water.

Tongan Police struggle to apprehend escaped US murder accused

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.