WINHALL-- Police said that a Bennington man suspected of causing a fire that destroyed a warming hut at the Stratton Recreation Park in November was arrested Jan. 30 in Manchester.

John C. Edmunds pleaded not guilty Feb. 2 in Brattleboro District Court to second degree arson and a felony count of unlawful mischief.

According to a statement from the Winhall Police Department, the Stratton, Winhall and Wardsboro fire departments responded to the recreation park at around 1 a.m. on Nov. 11 to a reported structure fire. Police said that the warming hut, valued at $6,800, was a total loss but nearby structures were saved.

Winhall Police said witnesses gave information that led them to apply for an arrest warrant on Edmunds, also known as "Cole Cooper." Police said their investigation led them to Manchester, where the Manchester Police Department arrested Edmunds.

According to a police affidavit, a witness reported that 10 to 15 people were at the recreational party at night burning wood pellets, until Edmunds, who the witness referred to as "Cole," took a wooden picnic table from the warming hut and threw it onto the fire. The witness said he tried to burn a second table, but was stopped by the crowd.

The witness said that Edmunds was overheard saying that he would burn the warming hut down, but when the witness left at midnight, the building was not on fire.

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