UPDATE: Inmate says lighter found in cell at Brickdam Police Station, lit toilet paper to ward off mosquitos

A prisoner who was being detained for armed robbery is now being investigated for his role in setting fire to mattresses while in custody at the Brickdam Police Station.

The fire was allegedly set by Stephan Howard, 22, a vendor of East La Penitence, Georgetown who was arrested on Saturday.

According to a statement from Police Headquarters, when questioned, Howard related that upon entering the Brickdam lockups, he discovered a lighter and a piece of toilet paper inside of the cell, and due to mosquitoes biting him, he lit the piece of toilet paper around 06:40hrs Sunday morning and placed it on the cell door.

About 10 minutes later, he reportedly realized that the toilet paper had fallen on the mattress on the floor of the cell.

The mattress ignited into flames which Howard successfully extinguished by throwing water from a plastic bottle he had.

“Howard then shouted out during the interview, stating that the Police should do what they had to do since he had nothing more to say. An ‘entry’ was made in the Station Diary to this effect. He also refused to put his story in writing and also refused to go on a video interview,” the Police statement noted.

According to information reaching the News Room, a Constable on duty heard prisoners shouting “fire, fire.”

As a result, the rank immediately went to the lock-ups where he noticed smoke emanating from one of the cells.

It was the same cell where Howard was being housed.

The rank took Howard out of the cell where two mattresses were partially burnt.

The Guyana Fire (GFS) was summoned but by the time firefighters arrived, the fire was already put out.

Howard, the News Room was told, subsequently complained of feeling unwell.

He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he is seeking medical attention under Police guard.

At the time of the incident, six other prisoners were in custody at the lock-ups.

In October 2021, the Brickdam Police Station was completely destroyed by a fire allegedly set by a prisoner in the lock ups.