Jayvon Johnson and Jose Bordoy, both 19 and from Ansonia, face multiple charges connected to the Oct. 3 fire at Gatison Park in Ansonia, authorities said.
Officers and firefighters were called to the park near Third and Fourth streets shortly before 3:30 a.m., police said. The play equipment and the rubber surface beneath it were burning. Firefighters extinguished the blaze.
The fire marshal quickly determined the blaze was intentionally set.
Ansonia police said a school resource officer identified the suspects from surveillance footage. Authorities searched their homes and found evidence that tied them to the fire, police said.
According to the arrest warrant, Johnson told detectives that Bordoy used a lighter to burn pinecones. Johnson said the final fire failed to go out and spread, prompting both men to run away.
Johnson and Bordoy were each charged with:
- First-degree criminal mischief
- First-degree conspiracy to commit criminal mischief
- Reckless burning
- Conspiracy to commit reckless burning
- Second-degree reckless burning
- Second-degree conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment
Both men were released after posting $25,000 bonds each, court records show.
Mayor Frank Tyszka condemned the arson in a Facebook post and pledged to rebuild the playground, which is estimated to cost $110,000, according to WFSB.
“What kind of a person would burn a playground for children?” he said.
“Not only will we demand justice in this matter, but we are going to work as a community to rebuild this playground to be even better than it was before.”
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