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Death-defying Vincy made to cool off in police station

by Barbados Today
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KINGSTOWN – A thrill-seeking Vincentian, defying orders to stay away from the La Soufriere volcano, becoming a social media star as he climbed the smouldering peak and collected rock samples, has been arrested, Police Commissioner Colin John confirmed Tuesday night.

Desron Rodriguez could either face charges of breaching the National Emergency Act or be let off with a stiff warning about venturing up the inferno without permission, Barbados TODAY has learned.

Section 33 of the law grants a cabinet minister, under advice from the Director of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), the authority to order the evacuation of any premises or area. The law grants ministerial power to “limit the extent of the disaster totally or partially prohibit or restrict public access… to any road or pathway within the State affected or likely to be affected by the disaster.”

In recent weeks, Rodriguez has become a controversial Instagram personality for his daring climbs to the edge of the erupting volcano. His latest climb on Sunday was denounced by volcanologist Professor Richard Robertson, the UWI scientist monitoring the volcano.

Rodriguez told Barbados TODAY around 5 p.m. Tuesday evening he was being questioned by police and was later taken to the Biabou Police Station off the Windward Highway.

When a Barbados TODAY team arrived at the station around 8:30 p.m., a female constable said Rodriguez was indeed being held but would not be allowed to speak with the press. The officer also revealed that his lawyer was at the station earlier in the day but had already left.

When subsequently asked to confirm whether Rodriguez is in custody, Commissioner John said: “Yes, I can confirm that.” He added that to the best of his knowledge, it was the first arrest made under the emergency act stemming from the volcanic crisis.

But the police chief said Rodriguez has not been formally charged and would likely be released within 24 hours if no formal charges are laid.

“Once an area is declared an evacuation area, permission has to be sought or obtained from the director of NEMO, before you can obtain permission to enter that zone,” the Vincentian police commissioner said.
(kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)

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