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33 year-old Denise Lodge reported to police that she left her home for less than half hour, and when she returned, she found the building ablaze. She and other villagers strongly suspect that someone set it on fire, and police did detain the alleged arsonist. The problem is that he won't be charged because he has been certified as mentally ill. We spoke to police, and to the fire victim today, and here's what they told us:

Denise Lodge, Fire Victim
"I left out of my house like 6:30. I went at my sister-in-law like 6:40 and I not even take five minutes from my sister-in-law and by the time I come back was because I saw my house on fire. And I know I never left anything light inside. I didn't have any candle and my stove didn't have butane gas and I don't have electricity in the house. Everything I loss. I didn't get anything out. The fire just blazed quickly. So I didn't get to save anything."

Daniel Ortiz
"We were told that it may be because of someone who is considered to be mentally ill. That person supposedly set it on fire. Talk to us about that."

Denise Lodge, Fire Victim
"Well I supposed it's him, because I got the understanding that he say he was going to do it - burn down my house or my brother's house. But I wasn't at home, so I was the target and I think that is what he did, because after he did it, he bragged about it that he lit it on fire to. So I do believe that he did it."

Inspector Juanito Cocom - OC, Ladyville Police
"The complainant suspects one John Dawson to be the person who set her house on fire. When police responded, tried to apprehend John Dawson who is a mental patient, a twenty-one year old Belizean laborer of Scotland Halfmoon Village. During his apprehension, two police officers were injured. One received abrasions to her face…it's a female police officer and the other received a cut wound to the left eyelash."

Sr. Sup. Edward Broaster, O. C. Eastern Rural
"He will not be charged; he is certified mentally insane."

Daniel Ortiz
"Sir even for the injuries he inflicted to the police officers as well?"

Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster
"The law is specific when it comes to mentally challenged individuals. When these individuals are not on their medications, then they get violent and aggressive. We have spoken to the family and reiterate to them that they should ensure that he gets his medication on time otherwise he might end up hurting them and other villagers."

Lodge is asking for help from anyone in the public who can provide her with assistance in trying to help her family recover from this fire. She can be reached at phone number +501-630-2183.