On 8-13-2009 at approximately 2039 hours the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of Reckless Conduct with a Firearm in Township 19 MD.
After an investigation by Sgt. Randy Perry of the Washington County Sheriff's Office he found that an armed confrontation had taken place on a dead end road on the Barrens in Columbia.
Mr. Kevin Merritt, Mrs. Melinda Church, and her two children ages four and seven, were riding along that road when Mr. Joseph Tibbetts stopped them.
A brief face-to-face exchange followed. During the exchange between the parties Mr. Tibbetts was reported to have displayed a firearm.
The couple and their children left the area and called 911.
The investigation progressed over the next few days.
On 8-17-2009 an arrest warrant was issued for Mr. Tibbetts, Date of birth, 07/09/1948, of Columbia, Maine.
Mr. Tibbetts ,a retired State Trooper, former Washington County Sheriff and a former State Representative was charged with Criminal Threatening with a Dangerous Weapon Class C and Threatening Display of a Weapon Class D.
On the afternoon of 8-17-2009 Mr. Tibbetts was placed under arrest by Sgt. Randy Perry of the Washington County Sheriff's Office and Trooper Miles Carpenter of the Maine State Police.
He was arrested without incident and transported to the Washington County Jail where he was released on $5,000.00 unsecured cash bail.
Sheriff Donnie Smith
Washington County
Sheriff's Office