Massachusetts

Man Charged With Assaulting Child, Running Massive Drug Operation

A Massachusetts man was arrested this week on charges that he indecently assaulted a child and ran a massive drug manufacturing and trafficking operation out of his South Shore home.

Michael Tibbetts, 23, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at his home on Country Way in Scituate. He faces two counts of indecent assault and battery, one count of marijuana trafficking, one count of drug manufacturing, three counts of drug distribution and two counts of drug possession.

Scituate police said the arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation into the sale of illegal drugs from Tibbetts' Country Way address. 

Police said they had received numerous complaints from neighbors and other anonymous sources who had reportedly seen people coming and going from the house on a regular basis and believed that someone was dealing drugs from the address.

While the drug investigation was going on, police were also investigating Tibbetts for allegations of indecent assault against a child under age 14. Those allegations were brought to the attention of the state Department of Children and Families in February of 2018, and charges were filed earlier this week.

After Tibbetts was taken into custody Wednesday, police seized large amounts of packaging materials, scales, marijuana, THC oil, THC vape cartridges and THC-infused drinks that they said were intended for sale. Several hundred plastic bottles, caps and labels were located in the attic, along with Pyrex cooking trays, Crock-Pots and large liquid containers. Police also seized three kinds of pills believed to be Ecstasy, Molly and Adderall, several thousand dollars in cash, two pellet guns, a crossbow and a bulletproof vest.

The drugs that were confiscated are believed to have a street value of over $30,000.

Police said they believe Tibbetts had been growing marijuana and conducting the THC oil extracting process inside the home using large amounts of butane fuel, a volatile process that can result an explosion or fire.

Tibbetts is currently being held on $10,000 bail. If he posts bail, he will be equipped with a GPS bracelet and required to stay away from the victim's residence and school.

Contact Us