A Jamaican fugitive, wanted in connection with a harrowing 2019 case of torture and arson in Massachusetts, was apprehended on Thursday in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Dushane Jerome Simon, 26, was captured following a joint operation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Criminal and Special Investigations Divisions and the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.
Simon has been sought for his alleged involvement in a violent home invasion in Springfield, Massachusetts, where a victim was reportedly robbed, kidnapped, tortured, and set on fire. Authorities believe Simon fled Massachusetts prior to his trial.
Massachusetts officials contacted the BCSO on January 15, requesting assistance in locating Simon and confirming their willingness to extradite him if found. Investigators swiftly identified Simon’s location at an apartment in Panama City Beach.
When authorities moved in, the Jamaican fugitive attempted to escape by jumping from a third-story balcony, fleeing on foot into a wooded area. However, law enforcement pursued and apprehended him a short distance away.
Simon is now in custody at the Bay County Jail as a fugitive from justice. A hold has been placed on him by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as Simon is an illegal immigrant with no valid visa. Authorities confirmed he has a prior arrest history and a final deportation order.
Details of the 2019 case
The charges against Simon stem from a September 30, 2019, home invasion on Roosevelt Avenue in Springfield. Investigators allege Simon, then 21, was part of a group of three who targeted the residence, reportedly because marijuana was being grown there.
During the attack, the suspects are accused of torturing and critically burning the victim, stealing cash, and taking a motor vehicle. At the time, Simon was wearing a GPS ankle bracelet from the Massachusetts Probation Department, but the device was later found discarded along I-495, leading authorities to suspect he had fled the area.
Simon will face extradition proceedings and could be deported after serving any potential sentence.
