The Commissioner of Police has scotched media claims that he has personal ties to a man wanted for questioning in connection with a criminal matter.

Darrin Simons spoke out in response to media reports at the weekend that Jeremiah Tyrell had finally been located — on a property owned by his family.

Last night, Mr Simons confirmed that Mr Tyrell had been apprehended, but insisted that he had no personal connection to him.

Mr Simons said: “I am simply not connected in any way to the harbouring or care of the recently arrested man. While it is true that the property where he was found belongs to my family, I had no involvement in his presence there.

“The original TNN report falsely claimed that I reside on the premises. That is untrue. The property in question is separate, overgrown, undeveloped, land that has been in the family for generations.

“I do not live there, nor do I frequent the property. Once informed of this fact, the report was revised to claim that I reside ‘on the estate’ clearly intended to preserve a misleading narrative. I do not reside at that property.

“This investigation continues to be handled by serious-crime officers, who have complete operational independence to investigate any and all circumstances of the suspect’s arrest.

“I do not wish to compromise this serious ongoing investigation. However, I cannot allow baseless insinuations that harm public confidence in the police to go unanswered.”

On Friday, a police spokesman confirmed that Mr Tyrell was “in the care” of the Bermuda Police Service.

It is understood that the criminal matter referenced related to the incident at Legends Bar in Somerset on May 1, when shots were fired at patrons resulting in the deaths of Jasmin Smith, 32, and Shaquan Williams, 29.

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