Friday, November 20, 2009 in Lewiston, Maine

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State

Ex-sheriff accused of threatening Maine family

By The Associated Press
Published: Aug 19, 2009 12:00 am
MACHIAS, Maine (AP) - A former Maine sheriff has been arrested after allegedly holding a family at gunpoint in a blueberry barrens near Columbia Falls.

Sixty-one-year-old Joseph Tibbetts, a retired state trooper, former Washington County sheriff and former state representative, was arrested Monday night. He was charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and with threatening display of a weapon. He's been released on $5,000 bail.

The Bangor Daily News reports the investigation began on Aug. 13. An Addison family called 911 to report that a man who identified himself as Tibbetts, and whom one of the victims recognized as a previous employer, had threatened them and held them at gunpoint when they were visiting the barrens to spot bears.

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Comments

Angel says

PS!!...If this man had not been a retired Police Officer, it never would have even made the paper...talk about mountains out of molehills!!

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

Angel says

"visiting the barrens to spot bears"..hummm, is it bear season?? I think not..Is the land posted?? i don't know...can people just trample over anyones land to do as they please, when they please?? NO! I do not know anyone in the artical..but I do know enough to not tresspass on others land, and i do know if someone is on your land without permission, you CAN protect it, and yourself!!

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

big daddy says

If they were on my property illegally at night I get my gun.You don't spot bears at night unless you're a poacher.But as a retired cop he should have used better judgement.Yes it is true no officer has been guilty of unjustified shooting.

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

dubba's picture

dubba says

stay the h@#L out of my blueberry patch! or i'll shoot....so whats the problem?

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

Nancy1 says

Bangor Daily News has more detail about this. Seems the "victims" had ignored posted signs declaring the area private property. Since the blueberry harvest is in full swing there is a lot of very expensive equipment out there that could be stolen. I think the excuse that they were going to spot bears is just that, an excuse. Also please remember, this was at night and Tibbetts was confronting a trespasser with no idea what that trespasser had in mind. Last I knew, it's still legal to carry a gun AND to protect your property.

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

ratterrier1 says

I agree with Nancy1, since when is it against the law to protect your own property? SJ sensationalism at it's best.

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

Chippy's picture

Chippy says

It is cops like this and state reps, that make the good ones look bad and give em all bad names. Unfortunately, there are a lot of cops that think they are above the law and can do anything they want.

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

TREEHUGGARRR says

Holy crap Dr, 3 paragraphs and you got him guilty as charged!
I can understand tron, his family have always been in trouble with the cops, but whats your beef.
Just because the guy charged, does not find him guilty before a trial.
There are two sides to every story.
You want to see dirty psycho cops, read the NY Post!
Maine cops, as a whole are good stand up guys.
Even the game wardens r , well, honest and hard working.

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

ratterrier1 says

Way to go Treehuggarrr, you tell him!

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

tron's picture

tron says

He is guilty, he should know better. The only people who believe that Maine police are good is someone in the criminal justice system. Everyone else knows better. In Maine, when a cop wants a paid vacation, all they have to do is shoot someone. They will ALWAYS we exonerate by the AG's office.

Now I would like you to prove that my "family have always been in trouble with the cops." Good luck because that is an outright lie. I'd expect an apology, but people like you don't know what that is.

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

tron's picture

tron says

Ah yes, Maine's finest, we should be so proud of them. He'll work the system and get away with it. Time for citizen boards to deal with these scumbags!

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

DR says

Why are crazies attracted to law enforcement? I'm guessing so they can 'legally' carry and threaten. I feel sorry for the decent cops out there. I'm sure they do their best to uphold laws and protect us while their insane brethren give them all a black eye.

Posted 13 weeks ago (permalink)

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