Duluth Man Charged for Damaging Neighbor’s Home with Fireworks

Jul 21

A 48-year-old man is facing felony arson and threats of violence charges after a late-night confrontation last week in Duluth.

Police say he threw mortar-style fireworks at his neighbor’s home, damaged the siding and gas meter, then threatened to burn it down during the bizarre outburst.

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According to a criminal complaint filed Friday, Phillip Everett Bacon became upset late on July 15 after two friends of a neighbor pulled into the shared alley between their homes on South 60th Avenue West.

The group told police that Bacon began shouting at them before escalating to threats that he would kill them and burn the house down. Fearing for their safety, the three people—one resident and two guests—locked themselves inside and called 911.

Officers arrived and found firework debris in the yard, burn marks on the home’s siding, the siding of the house and a small blast area underneath the gas meter. The booms the residents heard had reportedly shaken the house, the court documents said.

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Police located Bacon inside the garage of his residence. He was arrested at the scene. Officers say they found firework packaging in the garage consistent with the debris found outside.

Bacon has been charged with first-degree arson, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and threats of violence with reckless disregard, a felony with a maximum penalty of five years. He remains in custody with bail set at $100,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for August.

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