Jamaican Fugitive Arrested in Florida for 2019 Torture and Arson Case

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Florida — A Jamaican fugitive and undocumented immigrant, wanted for his alleged role in a brutal 2019 kidnapping, torture, and arson case in Massachusetts, was captured yesterday in a dramatic operation in Panama City Beach, Florida.

Dushane Jerome Simon, 26, was arrested on Thursday by members of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Criminal and Special Investigations Divisions, alongside the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force, according to the sheriff’s office.

Simon is accused of participating in a home invasion on Roosevelt Avenue, Springfield, Massachusetts, on September 30, 2019. The incident left the victim critically injured after being robbed, kidnapped, tortured, and set on fire. Investigators believe the victim was targeted because of marijuana being grown at the property.

Authorities reported that Simon fled Massachusetts prior to standing trial for his alleged involvement in the attack. On January 15, Massachusetts authorities contacted BCSO to assist in locating Simon and confirmed they would extradite him if apprehended.

After initiating surveillance, Simon was found at an apartment on Panama City Beach. Upon realizing he was being pursued, Simon attempted to evade capture by leaping from a third-story balcony and fleeing into a nearby wooded area. Law enforcement officers quickly apprehended him a short distance away.

Simon is currently held as a fugitive at the Bay County Jail, with a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer placed on him. Authorities confirmed he does not have a valid visa and is subject to a final deportation order, meaning he will be deported after completing legal proceedings.

At the time of the 2019 attack, Simon, then 21, was reportedly one of three individuals involved in the violent home invasion. During the crime, he was wearing a GPS ankle monitor from the Massachusetts Probation Department. Investigators believe Simon removed the device and fled the state, as the bracelet was later found discarded along I-495 in Eastern Massachusetts.

The suspects are accused of stealing cash, a vehicle, and other items during the invasion. The victim, who sustained severe burns and other critical injuries, survived the ordeal.

Authorities continue to investigate Simon’s role in the crime, and he remains in custody pending extradition to Massachusetts.