Mentally ill prisoner attempts to set fire inside NA Prison

A mentally ill prisoner at the New Amsterdam prison Saturday caused a large amount of smoke at a main electrical panel when he reportedly bridged the electric wire at around 18:35hrs.

Director of Prisons (ag) Gladwin Samuels in press statement revealed that Devon Griffith, who is serving 25 years for murder, was earlier removed from the other mentally ill prisoners and placed in the security block due to his aggressive behaviour towards them.

While in the security block, Samuels said he was informed that Griffith bridged the electric wire that caused a feedback to a main panel; this resulted in a large amount of smoke at the panel.

Members of the Joint Services and the Guyana Power and Light Inc. quickly responded and assessed the situation.

The Prison Director said members of the Guyana Fire Service conducted inspections and the area was declared safe while the prisoner has since been relocated and is being monitored.