A 29-year-old man with no known address is facing arson and unlawful mischief charges after a series of late-November incidents involving fires, vandalism of police vehicles, and damage to the city’s Christmas tree, according to the Barre City Police Department.
The first incident occurred on November 25, at around 7:50 p.m., when officers discovered a fire burning in a dumpster next to the Barre City Public Safety Complex near Wobby Park.
Police were able to extinguish the blaze. While investigating, officers also found a burnt American flag placed on top of a police cruiser. Cigarette butts had been scattered across the hood of that cruiser and three others parked nearby.
During the early-morning hours the next day, November 26, at about 3:30 a.m., officers responded to City Hall Park for a report of someone in the area and the city’s Christmas tree knocked over. Police say a review of the park’s camera footage showed the same man in the gazebo attempting to light the Christmas tree on fire before pushing it over.
Additional review of security footage at the Public Safety Complex confirmed that the individual seen at City Hall Park was also responsible for the dumpster fire and the vandalism to the police cruisers, authorities said.
The suspect, Randolph Tatro, has been cited to appear in Washington Superior Court on January 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. to answer charges of Unlawful Mischief and Arson – Setting Fires. He was also issued a 180-day trespass notice barring him from all city-owned properties.
Police say information about the incidents has been forwarded to the Barre Probation & Parole office, as the man is currently under supervision.
