Police: Westport man stabbed Bible and left it outside of neighbor's home
The Bible was open to a specific verse with a knife stabbed through the pages.
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A Westport man is accused of violating a restraining order when he allegedly stabbed through the pages of a Bible and left it outside of his neighbor's home.
Westport police say their investigation began on July 9, after a person informed police that Francis Conklin, 67, had violated a civil protection order.
The order, issued in June, prevented Conklin from threatening, harassing or stalking the person.
An investigation revealed that the person returned home July 9 and saw a Bible outside of their home and near Conklin's residence. The Bible was open to a specific verse with a knife stabbed through the pages.
Police say the person saw this as an act of threatening and harassment.
Police say officers and the Westport Fire Department responded to Conklin's home for a fire July 15.
Officers found Conklin in his back yard, where an area of grass had been burned and recently extinguished. Investigators say Conklin had performed a ritual where the fire started.
On Thursday, Conklin was arrested after officers saw him waiting at a bus stop in downtown Westport.
Conklin was charged in both incidents.
His charges include criminal violation of a civil protection order and criminal mischief.
Conklin is expected to appear at Stamford Superior Court on Aug. 22.
