By the time Timothy Gibson, 56, was arrested on several domestic violence and other charges after a stand-off with a SWAT team at his home of State Road A1A just north of Surfside Estates shortly after noon today, Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies and Flagler Beach police found a home turned into a heavily armed bunker readied as if for a siege. But they had de-escalated what could have been a violent end to what had already been a night of alleged threats of violence and death to three women.
A kitchen knife had been stabbed into the wall near front door. Two kitchen knives were on the floor below it. A rifle was placed in the living area near a couch. A tactical duty belt was on the couch. A kitchen knife was on a coffee table in the kitchen area. Two kitchen knives were stabbed into the wall to veil a window with a cover. A kitchen knife was left on a bathroom counter. A shotgun with a tactical shell holder, with rounds in the holder, was located in a bedroom. A kitchen table was knocked on its side, placed up against a window as if for cover.
“All of the above weapons and furniture appeared to have been just moved there to be utilized in a barricading situation,” a sheriff’s report stated. Five shotgun shells were later located on the outside of the house near Gibson’s red Ford F-250.
A 21-year-old woman had called authorities. She told them that her 56-year-old mother had been out drinking the previous night with her husband Timothy at at Johny D’s in Flagler Beach, though his wife “is uncomfortable in the presence of Timothy when he’s intoxicated and called her daughter to come pick up Timothy.” The younger woman drove to the bar and brought Gibson home. But as he sat in the back seat, he was allegedly “belligerently kicking the windows of the vehicle, threatened to kill himself, hated everyone, and threatened to kill his wife,” according to his arrest report.
The younger woman told authorities that Gibson suffers from bipolar disorder and PTSD, and has had previous domestic incidents with his wife, who spent the night at her stepdaughter’s home. The younger woman dropped off Gibson at the 2982 North Ocean Shore Blvd. residence, at Lot 45, and stayed at a family friend’s house, since she was “in fear of her father.,” according to the report.
From 2 to 6 a.m., Gibson was nevertheless in constant contact with her, then banging on her windows and doors and threatening to kill the younger woman, his wife and a third person. By dawn she heard glass shattering outside: He was breaking his wife’s vehicle windows with a brick, apparently attempting to locate her. He then left the area in the same vehicle, “threatening to drive the vehicle into the [Intracoastal] and drive his truck into” the residence where his daughter was staying.
Further threats ensued, leading the younger woman to contact law enforcement. “After deputies arrived on scene,” the report states, Gibson “was prevented from progressing the threat of ramming his truck into the residence due to a perimeter being established and Timothy being contained in his residence.” What Gibson may have perceived as a siege actually began, though Gibson was not alone in the house. A man who was there reported to authorities that he saw Gibson get a 12 Gauge shotgun and heard him say that “he messed up and that things are going to get nasty with law enforcement.”
Gibson donned a camouflage outfit and barricated himself in what would turn out to be a standoff of several hours, involving the SWAT team, the Snipers Recognizance Team, crisis negotiators, tactical command and assistance from other agencies. “Eventually, after an extended period time of negotiating, Timothy exited his residence with compliance,” the report states.
Gibson was charged with domestic violence assault, domestic violence aggravated assault, aggravated assault, resisting arrest without violence, and two counts of aggravated stalking.
Gibson has a criminal history in Flagler County dating back to February 2010 for numerous charges including Obstruction by a Disguised Person, Driving Under the Influence, Threats against a Public Servant and Battery Domestic Violence.
“This is a situation that could have had a terrible outcome,” Sheriff Rick Staly was quoted as saying in a release issued this evening. “This guy has a history of bad decision-making. Our SWAT team and other deputies did a great job de-escalating this incident and bringing it to a peaceful resolution, but we were prepared in case he chose to try and harm anyone.”
Staly added: “The holiday season, especially this year, can be a stressful time for families and often results in an increase in domestic disturbances but it is never acceptable to resort to violence. I ask that our residents practice kindness toward their friends, family and neighbors. If you find yourself in a hazardous situation, ask for help before it escalates. If you see someone else in a dangerous situation, say something. We are here for you and help is always just one phone call away.”
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YOUNGIN says
Listen this story nakes him as a bad guy and we all have our crazy moments i work for him hes an awesome guy an amazing father and grandfather and boss and would give you the shirt off his back he just got a little too drunk and angry over some love he didnt like what he saw and his emotions had him yelling he wasnt planning to have a shootout with LEOs. Hes a supporter of all law enforcement. A combat vet. Was a police officer. He has utmost respect for LEO and complete 100 love for his famils
maryann says
This is the most ridiculous comment I’ve ever read here. If he had any respect for himself – let alone LEO, his wife, kids, grandkids, etc. – this wouldn’t even be an article. If he gets this belligerent when he drinks – he should stop. The nicest of people snap and with the arsenal of weapons he had in the home – there’s a likely chance he could have been the next. Your comment is equivalent to enabling. He needs help and he’s a ticking time bomb for the future.
ASF says
I don’t think anyone who knows about this man’s prior history of arrests can describe him as an upstanding citizen who has great respect for the law.
If the people who interact personally with this man really cared about him and/or his family members (or the safety of anyone else who might get in his way when he is on a tear–including LEO’s), they would be spending their time trying to convince him to get the help he so badly needs, instead of writing defensive posts praising his character on the internet.
The Geode says
…until he threatens to kill them
Concerned Friend says
I couldnt agree with you anymore than I do right now!. Tim is a great great guy. He has a beautiful family! And yes this year has been a very trying year for everyone. He does own a tree business and I am hoping he still does. He does great work and has a great crew. But im sure business has slowed down for him which causes stress… the holidays etc. And when u mix drugs, alcohol any substance with extreme stress it can make a bad concoction.
I do hope this doesn’t ruin business anymore for him because now people are going to automatically think he is a lunatic. Which is truly not the case!
He just let it all get to him in a extreme way!
This is sad to read… especially because I know him. And this is not his normal!
ASF says
It sounds like tis gentleman becomes, as you put it, “a lunatic”, when he drinks. Everyone is under stress because of the virus. That is no excuse to drink to excess, break the law and possibly pose a danger to self and/or others.
It sounds more and more to me as though this individual is surrounded by enablers. That does him less favors than it does anyone else. Helping someone–especially someone who resists the help–is hard. Enabling is a cop-out for everyone concerned…and, too often, it proves, in the final analysis, to be a deadly one.
Steve says
Thats all good. If for a moment this man would think about the ramifications of his actions poor choices and oh yeah put the bottle down forever if it all means so much to him other Family Members Holidays wouldnt be ruined by unacceptable behavior. Hes risking other lives and thats not ever right. Hes an Adult. Allegedly.
Ho ho ho
Wow says
Not stress or “bad decision-making”. It’s called alcoholism. As they say “What makes problems is one.” Get some help buddy.
Trailer Bob says
“he just got a little too drunk”? Really, a little too drunk?
Everyday in America someone gets a “little too drunk”, and kills someone.
Happy for you that you believe this type of behavior is OK.
Wow, just wow.
Devin Mckenna says
I have also worked for Tim Gibson and he is a great guy and does love his family Tim has done nothing but served for your country and also he takes care of the up most beautiful areas in Flagler county. Much longer for you brother hope for the best for ya..
N R A Tim says
I hope the Flagler County Sheriff’s office is going to take this man’s guns away. There is no need for someone like him to have a guns. I hope he gets the help he needs as well.
Just Saying says
As far as getting “a little to drunk”, of course the individual is the most responsible for that. Then there is the “bar” tender that continued to serve this individual knowing that he was “drunk”. This could become a huge liability for the place of business.
I hope that this establishment changes their policies for the safety of everyone.
Forest says
He is always on a deadly mixture of bad things. That’s when bad things happen. He has threatened to kill me before over a tree job that my company won. He became extremely violent. I called police in fear for my life. Gibson has a long record of violence. He needs help for sure. I knew that this would happen some day. It was just a matter of time.