by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Two juveniles have admitted to setting the Lake Wobegon Trail walking-biking bridge on fire, according to Stearns County officials on May 3.
Investigators from the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office interviewed the two boys about the April 30 fire and obtained admissions they were responsible for the arson that damaged the bridge, which caused its temporary closure during the weekend.
The juveniles were released to their parents’ custody. The case will be forwarded to the Stearns County Attorney’s Office for review of criminal charges.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a bicyclist at about 5:30 p.m. April 30 that the bridge was on fire. It’s part of the Wobegon Trail in Albany Township near Schwinghammer Lake.
The fire was put out, and for a time the bridge was shut down, mainly to conduct an investigation performed by the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office with help from the Minnesota State Fire Marshall’s Office. They determined the fire had been purposely set, a case of arson.
The bridge has since been re-opened after it was determined to be safe. Only some of the wood on the bridge had been burned by the fire. Its steel supporting structure remains intact.