A Brattleboro man is being held on a $2,500 bond after police say he attempted to ignite an incendiary device during a protest on Main Street on Dec. 6.

According to information from the Brattleboro Police Department and the Vermont Department of Corrections, Oscar Whelan, 43, pulled up to a protest near Pliny Park in his vehicle and tried to light something on fire inside the car. The demonstration was part of a national day of action themed, “No war on Venezuela, no more murders on the high seas.”

Witnesses told police the driver was stopped in front of the protesters and appeared to be trying to ignite something coming out of what looked like a bottle. Police say that after traffic began honking and driving around the vehicle, Whelan stopped what he was doing and left the area.

A few days later, on Dec. 9, while Brattleboro police were investigating the alleged attempted firebombing, they received a complaint that Whelan had received firearm ammunition in the mail. Police said that violated conditions of release tied to earlier incidents in October at the Brattleboro Food Co-op and the Windham County Courthouse.

During a search of Whelan’s apartment on Williston Street, officers reported finding a 9mm handgun and four boxes of ammunition — 50 brass case centerfire 9mm 124-grain full metal jacket cartridges per box.

Police also searched Whelan’s car and said they found camouflage body armor, a metal baton, two fixed-blade knives, six magazines for a .22 caliber rifle, and what they described as “a significant amount” of .22 caliber ammunition. Officers also reported locating a .22 caliber Smith & Wesson MP15 rifle, along with a hatchet, pepper spray, and ammunition in the vehicle’s cup holder. The weapons and ammunition were seized.

Whelan was taken into custody on Jan. 13 for allegedly violating conditions of release connected to a pending criminal case. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 27 to respond to charges connected to the Dec. 6 incident.

Whelan had previously been charged with aggravated disorderly conduct stemming from an incident last October at the Brattleboro Food Co-op, where he was accused of trying to pry open doors after the store had closed and reportedly threatened an employee.

Court records also describe another incident on Oct. 20, 2025. According to a filing by Windham County Sheriff’s Deputy David Whittle, Whelan arrived at the Windham County Courthouse with a folding knife, which was confiscated at the entrance. Whittle wrote that Whelan became upset when court officers instructed him to empty his pockets of lighters and keys. Whelan then went to the court clerk’s office, where he continued causing a disturbance, according to the filing. When he was escorted out, Whittle wrote that Whelan knocked over a trash can and threatened court officers, including making the remark, “You better start wearing level 4 armor.”

He was charged with bringing a weapon to court, criminal threatening, and disorderly conduct.