An inmate, who is suspected to have mental illness, last evening attempted to start a fire at the New Amsterdam Prison.
Devon Griffith, who is jailed for 25 years and was in solitary confinement, allegedly interfered with the main switch box in the men’s prison. As a result, smoke began to emanate from the switch box.
Residents of the area surrounding the facility told this publication last evening that they heard a rumbling from the prison, after which they saw smoke and heard prisoners screaming, “Fire!”
A source said the prison staff was able to manage the situation until the fire service arrived.
Up to last evening, police were at the scene as well as an investigation has been launched.
Griffith, called ‘Two Kicks’, 31, of Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice was sentenced to 25 years in prison last year after he pleaded guilty to killing his aunt, Vaulda Britton, in the course of, or furtherance of a sexual offence of rape. Due to his aggressive behaviour towards other prisoners he was placed in solitary, this newspaper was told.
