Two days after police in the Bahamas announced an investigation into a $25 million extortion plot targeting the grieving John Travolta and Kelly Preston, three people have been hauled in by police.
Officials arrested Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater Thursday afternoon in Freeport. Police tell E! News they have some kind of recording of Bridgewater, but did not indicate what she says on tape.
Earlier today, ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne turned himself in, accompanied by his lawyer. Lightbourne had received some attention weeks ago after announcing in the press that he was one of those who futilely attempted to revive 16-year-old Jett Travolta before the young man was pronounced dead on Jan. 2.
Another politician, Obie Wilchcombe, was also taken in to custody today after he refused to voluntarily submit to an interrogation. A member of parliament and former minister of tourism, and a Travolta family friend, Wilchcombe emerged as an unofficial spokesman for the mourning clan in the wake of Jett's death.
Acting Commissioner of Police Reginald Ferguson told E! News that Wilchcombe was "assisting the police" with their probe.
No one has been charged. Under Bahamian law an arrest simply means being brought to a police station for questioning. Those detained can be held for up to 48 hours.
"We are investigating a complaint by Mr. Travolta in connection with extortion, and these people are helping us with that investigation," Ferguson said.
Police also refused to confirm what a Bahamian news outlet reported earlier this week: that there may have been a cell phone photo of Jett snapped in an ambulance.
"We have yet to make any determination as to whether the matter will end," said Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames. "As you know, in the case of any investigation we have to see people and talk to them and make some determination as to their involvement or otherwise.
"Inquiries are continuing," he added.
There has been no immediate comment from the Travoltas on today's arrest, but their lawyers did issue a statement on Monday confirming the family had been preyed upon.
"Regrettably, in a time of such terrible grief, there are often a few individuals who attempt to make false claims in hopes of making millions of dollars," said the family's attorneys, Mike Ossi and Howard Butler.
"We will never let that happen."
—Additional reporting by Whitney English
(Originally published on Jan. 23, 2009, at 1:35 p.m. PT)