Posted on: March 30, 2025 01:20 PM

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Tioga County man charged with attempted arson and criminal mischief

On March 25, 2025, at approximately 10:33 a.m., New York State Police at Owego arrested Jeremy W. Searles, age 50 of Waverly, NY for Attempted Arson in the second degree, a class “C” felony and Criminal Mischief in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor.

On March 24, 2025, Troopers were dispatched by the Tioga County 911 Center to a report of a disturbance and a brush fire at a residence on Ellis Creek Road in the town of Barton.    When patrols arrived, they observed that several areas on the property where brush had been recently burnt.

An investigation determined that there had been a dispute involving Searles and three other people when Searles intentionally ignited brush in an attempt to burn an occupied trailer.  The fire was put out by the other people that were involved in the dispute.

When Troopers attempted to interview Searles, they could hear him from a wooded area near the property and believed that he was suffering from a mental health crisis.  Searles fled the area but Troopers ultimately located Searles several hours later.  He was taken into custody outside the residence on March 25.  He was transported to Wilson Medical Center to be evaluated.

From NYSP