ZAYN ARCAND

IRON MOUNTAIN — An Iron Mountain teen is accused of throwing a glass bottle filled with liquid at the Dickinson County Republican Committee Headquarters on Saturday afternoon in what he later admitted was an attempt to set the building on fire, authorities said.

Zayn Edward Arcand, 19, was charged Monday in Dickinson County District Court with explosives-manufacture/possession of a Molotov cocktail/explosive or incendiary device causing property damage and arson-preparation to burn property, Jeff Solka, director of Iron Mountain Police and Fire Services, confirmed later in the day.

A person reported seeing the teen in the area of 617 N. Stephenson Ave. just before 4 p.m. Saturday attempt to light a rag sticking out of the bottle before throwing the unlit bottle at the window of the headquarters, Solka stated in a news release earlier Monday afternoon. Surveillance camera footage showed the bottle shattered on impact but did not catch fire.

A second broken glass bottle was found in the parking lot, also with an unknown liquid and rag sticking out of the top, according to the news release.

Officers were able to identify the teen, who when found at his home admitted making the bottles in his driveway, then throwing them at the Dickinson County Republican Committee Headquarters “to send a message against the corruption,” Solka stateD in the news release, adding, “The suspect was hoping what he made was flammable and would ignite.”

Arcand was arrested and booked into the Dickinson County Jail. Online jail information listed him Monday being held on a $15,000 bond.

Angela Hall, chair of the Dickinson County Republican Committee, said she spoke with the building’s owner after stopping by on Sunday. While she was relieved to find almost no signs of damages — the window even held up against the bottle — she called the incident “scary.”

“It was one of those moments of shock where you try to just digest it,” Hall said, adding, “Violence to try to sway anyone politically is not OK.”

Mari Negro, chair of the Dickinson County Democratic Party, echoed that sentiment in a written statement Monday.

“The Dickinson County Democratic Party does not condone or support violence in any form,” Negro wrote. “We’re glad that property damage was kept to a minimum and no one was hurt, thanks to the immediate response of our local police.”

Hall said she believes 95% of the community feels the same way, no matter what their political affiliation.

She said she would pray for the teen.

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Betsy Bloom can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85240, or bbloom@ironmountaindailynews.com.