ROCKLAND (UPDATE) – A Vinalhaven man who is accused of setting fire to a woman’s personal property, will be back in court on June 29 for a dispositional conference after he made his initial court appearance May 8 in Knox County Court. 

Tony Tibbetts, 58, is charged with arson, aggravated criminal mischief and refusing to submit to arrest or detention.

At the court hearing, Tibbetts was ordered by the judge not to return to Vinalhaven. His bail was set at $2,000 cash and he will be on supervised release when he posts bail. The other conditions of his bail include signing a Maine Pretrial Contract and not possessing any incendiary devices, alcohol, or illegal drugs. He will be subject to random searches.

According to the police affidavit filed in Knox County Court, officers said the personal property that was burned included the victim’s clothing. A can of starter fluid and a lighter were found on a kitchen table at the residence. Officers found a pile of burned items next to the residence with a large fuel can next to the pile of ashes.

Tibbetts told police that he had burned the victim’s belongs multiple times and was also making threats to burn more items, according the affidavit.

Police said that the man appeared to be intoxicated. They also found blood on the steps and porch of the residence that led into the kitchen where Tibbetts was located. The man had blood on his nose and face from being assaulted. He refused treatment by medical professionals at the scene.

VINALHAVEN — A man who allegedly set fire to personal property on Vinalhaven, Friday, May 5, has been arrested while another resident was given a summons for assault in relation to the same incident.

Knox Regional Communications Center received several calls at approximately 9:55 a.m. regarding the actions of the male subject.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office’s Vinalhaven deputy was advised and dispatched to the scene, as were the Vinalhaven Fire Department and Vinalhaven Ambulance. Arriving units determined that an assault had occurred shortly after the fire was set, according to Knox County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Curt Andrick.

Additional Sheriff’s deputies and detectives flew over from the mainland, via Penobscot Air Service, to assist with the investigation.

Through the investigation it was determined that Tony Tibbetts, 58, of Vinalhaven, had set fire to personal property at a residence, according to Andrick. More specifically, it was determined that Tibbetts had intentionally set fire to personal property including clothing and other items.

Knox County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Tibbetts and charged him with Arson, Refusing to Submit to an Arrest or Detention, and Criminal Mischief. He was transported to the mainland by the Maine Marine Patrol, and then brought to Knox County Jail for processing. 

Sheriff’s deputies also charged Christian Ames, 29, of Vinalhaven, with Assault that was related to the incident involving Tony Tibbetts. Ames was given a summons and then released. 

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Maine Marine Patrol, Vinalhaven Fire Department and Vinalhaven Ambulance.