More Details and Photos on Avila and The Barge Fire in Spanish Wells

Burnt but not stopped - the barge headed to Exuma on Monday to complete its business

(Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, The Bahamas) - The search continues for Avelino Avila Tomas, a Cuban man with a long history in Spanish Wells, who escaped detention on Harbour Island on the weekend. 

As the story was relayed to us, Avila, came to Spanish Wells some years ago (estimated at 10 years by a fisherman we spoke with) when as a migrant fleeing Cuba he was rescued by Spanish Wells fishermen. He had since gone on to the United States, but later returned to Spanish Wells.

What is apparent, is that today he is feared by some residents on the island. One individual, familiar with details on the story, asked to remain anonymous as they feared becoming the focus of the Cuban's dislike.

As a former employee of Mr. Roberts, proprietor of Island Block and Complete Marine, there is a history that may have led to Avila becoming a suspect to the Arson attack on the Barge on Saturday. The attack occurred in the wee hours of the morning and became known at about 3:30am when three loud explosions were heard on the vessel loaded with Island Block equipment for a job at White Bay Cay in Exuma.

According to Roberts, within 15 minutes of learning about the fire on the barge, he was there along with others, with a 2" water pump, attacking the fire. The nearby Tugboat was equipped with a fire pump and hose and within an hour the fire was extinguished but not before two trucks were destroyed (a Concrete Mixer and a Ten Yard Dump Truck), as well as an Ingersoll Rand Compressor and 705 bags of cement, resulting in losses totalling $200,000 to $300,000.

Destroyed Concrete Mixer Truck being removed from the barge.

From what we have learnt, a fast bit of thinking, led authorities in the direction of Avelino for questioning. Witnesses tell the Eleutheran that police went unarmed to question Avelino who after a verbal exchange, went into a room of his home and retrieved a licensed shotgun which he pointed at police telling them to, "get the ****" out of his home.

Completely destroyed trucks and equipment aboard the barge.

Avila, in police custody at the Spanish Wells dock, on the way to Harbour Island.

"They ran as fast as possible" said our source, and went to the station for guns and ammo and returned. By that time, Avila's Spanish Wells' wife was on the scene and was described as being between the officers and her husband.  He was eventually taken into custody that Saturday afternoon and escorted to the Harbour Island jail.

Harbour Island police just last month were praised for their apprehension of the Barefoot Bandit who was also briefly taken to the same station, but on this occasion the cell could not hold the Cuban, as residents in Spanish Wells tell of being alerted at about midnight, that Avelino Avila - the name he is widely known by, had busted out of jail and was on the run.

Mr. Roberts said that about six of them stood watch all night and the watch continues, as the suspect remains at large.

While the fire destroyed his equipment, the businessman explained to us, that they worked tirelessly through the weekend to have the burnt equipment removed and by Monday the tugboat with barge attached, was underway to Exuma. "We were very fortunate that we had enough to keep going", he added.  By Wednesday it had been to Exuma and back and according to Roberts - all day on Wednesday they were mixing cement on the job!

The tugboat and barge, loaded with equipment, headed to Exuma.

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