Somerset County Sheriff's Office Press Release

Somerset County Sheriff’s Office arrests suspect Timothy Abbott of Deal Island for soliciting cash for the Deal Island Fire Department, to fuel his alleged drug habit.

Over the past few months the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office has received numerous complaints regarding a subject identified as Timothy Abbott from Deal Island soliciting cash donations for the Deal Island Fire Department. During the investigation, deputies learned that Abbott who is not a fire fighter, had been going door to door to residents in the Deal Island area wearing a Deal Island Fire Department hat, and asking for cash donations for the fire department. After Abbott had received cash and or checks he would give a free smoke detector for the donation. The smoke detectors that were given out to the residence’s had been reported stolen from the fire department. Abbott was ultimately arrested and charged with (9) counts of fraud-misrepresentation for fund raising, theft scheme, less than $1,000 theft value less than $1,000, and violating a court ordered protective order. Abbott was later held on a $25,000 bond.