Vinalhaven escapee turns himself in

VINALHAVEN – An island man who fled deputies during an arrest by jumping into Carver’s Harbor, prompting an underwater search, turned himself over to authorities 24 hours later and remained jailed Friday.

Josh Anthony, 22, was taken to the Knox County Jail in Rockland on charges of escape, violation of conditions of release and possession of scheduled drugs, Chief Deputy Todd Butler said.

On Wednesday night, Anthony was allegedly involved in what Butler described as a disturbance on Roberts Cemetery Road. Police deputies arrested Butler and David Warren, 24, also of Vinalhaven. The two were charged with terrorizing.

While authorities waited for a boat to take the two men to jail on the mainland, Anthony bolted into nearby woods. He was not handcuffed.

When deputies chased him, he jumped into Carver’s Harbor and swam to a piling. A sheriff’s lieutenant was unable to coax Anthony back to shore. Officers did not know whether Anthony had drowned or was hiding until he surrendered around 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

It was not clear Friday night where Anthony had been in the 24 hours between his disappearance and arrest.

A Maine State Police dive team, four Maine Marine Patrol boats and the U.S. Coast Guard helped the Sheriff’s Department search for Anthony all day Thursday.

Meanwhile, David Warren was taken to the Knox County Jail on Wednesday night and was released on $400 unsecured bail.

Butler said the Wednesday disturbance apparently was related to an incident on the island four days earlier.

That Sept. 27 incident involved the arrest of a father and son, Charles Warren, 56, and Ira Warren, 39, for allegedly beating two men, one of them David Warren.

Authorities said they did not know if David Warren is related to the alleged assailants. The two victims of the beating did not require medical treatment, Butler said.

Both Charles Warren and Ira Warren were charged with aggravated assault, criminal mischief and terrorizing.

The reason for the Saturday night fight allegedly involved the death of a cat.

Someone shot the cat, Butler said, and apparently Charles and Ira Warren believed the other two men were involved.

Anthony did not enter the fray until Wednesday’s events, authorities said.

Lt. Lawrence Hesseltine is still investigating the case.