Ansonia police have arrested one teenager for allegedly burning down the pavilion at the Ansonia Nature Center in September.
Police have a second warrant pending to charge another teen for the crime.
Ansonia police charged a 15-year-old male on Feb. 3. The teen’s name was not released because of his age.
He was charged with:
- Third-degree arson
- First-degree criminal mischief
- First-degree reckless endangerment
- Third-degree criminal trespass
- Eight counts of risk of injury to a minor
The second teen is facing similar charges, according to Ansonia Police Lt. Andrew Cota.
The pavilion was found burned to the ground on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011.
Police said the suspects were at the pavilion the afternoon before, using lighters to burn leaves and other objects on picnic benches under the pavilion.
The suspect faces risk of of injury charges because there were eight teens at the pavilion, according to police.
When the teens left the pavilion, it wasn’t on fire, police said.
Police believe it burned down sometime overnight.
A jogger on one of the nature trails noticed the burned down pavilion at about 10 a.m. on Sept. 3.
The second suspect in the fire has since moved to Florida, Cota said.