Motorcycle fire leads to man's arrest in Tisbury
By Janet Hefler
Published: August 13, 2009
The Tisbury Police Department arrested a man at the scene of his burning motorcycle and followed up on two reported thefts last weekend.
On Saturday, August 8, Officer Michael Gately and Detective Mark Santon and the Tisbury fire and ambulance departments responded at 9:15 am to a motorcycle fire reported on Cook Street off State Road.
Owner David C. Teagan of Oak Bluffs was trying to put out flames engulfing his black 1987 model FXST Harley Davidson motorcycle when they arrived.
"The fire appeared to be caused by an electrical malfunction, and it was almost out when we got there," assistant fire chief James Rogers said.
In the meantime, the police officers ran Mr. Teagan's license plate number and discovered the Hingham District Court had issued a default warrant on him for operating a vehicle with a suspended license. He was subsequently arrested.
About a half hour later, police officers responded to a call from Robert Gilchrist of Vineyard Haven, who reported the theft of about $500 worth of fishing equipment from his boat moored in Lake Tashmoo, near the area of the Tashmoo Woods condominiums.
On Sunday, at 3:45 pm, Bill Bickson of Houston, Tex., reported the theft of his black and silver iPhone, valued at $400, at Owen Park. Mr. Bickson told Officer Gately he had plugged the phone into an electrical outlet in the public men's restroom and left for a quick 15-minute sail while it was recharging. It was gone when he returned.
