Jamaican fugitive Orville Pernell arrested in US

Jamaican fugitive Orville Pernell, who escaped from the Kingston Central police lock-up in December 2021, is in custody after being arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Savannah, Georgia.

The 32-year-old escaped from police custody in Jamaica while awaiting extradition to St Lucia on murder charges.

Pernell was apprehended by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agents on April 4, following an extensive investigation and multinational manhunt.

Pernell had reportedly “walked out” of the Jamaican lock-up on December 1, days before he was due to face an extradition hearing.

His escape caused three police officers who were on duty to be placed on interdiction.

According to a release from ICE, US border patrol agents encountered Pernell on December 7, 2022, near San Ysidro, California, after he attempted to enter the US using a fake identity.

He was paroled into the country and given a notice to appear.

In July of 2023, Pernell was arrested by the Clayton County Sheriff in Clayton County, Georgia for the possession of a stolen motorcycle and attempting to evade arrest.

During the arrest, police discovered a stolen nine millimetre handgun.

The US authorities located and arrested Pernell after their investigation led them to the Savannah area.

He was taken into custody without incident, ICE noted.

Pernell faces charges for being an alien in possession of a weapon in the US and is expected to be extradited back to St Lucia for his murder trial.

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