From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
AUBURN-The Auburn police department released a statement on Sunday morning announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jochen Wiest of Auburn on charges of public intoxication. Witnesses pointed him out as the person who started a fire in one of the Toomer’s oak trees.
According to the police, they were notified of the fire at 12:15 a.m. on Sunday and arrived with the Auburn Fire Department to find one of Toomer’s oak trees on fire. The blaze was due to someone igniting the toilet paper used to roll the trees following Auburn’s win over LSU Saturday night.
See the video of the tree being set on fire here.
Police said Wiest was pointed out to officers. He was immediately detained and taken into custody by officers who charged him with public intoxication unrelated to the fire.
Wiest was transported to the Lee County Detention Center where he is being held on a $500 bond. Police said he is not affiliated with the university.
Auburn University officials are evaluating the damage to the tree and additional charges are anticipated, police said.
While being held in custody, further investigation led to Wiest being identified as the person responsible for setting the fire. He was then charged with desecration of venerable object and his bond is now set at $1,000.
Updated with suspect’s name at 1:18 p.m.
18 Comments
Suzanne Williams Crosby
So he wasn’t affiliated with Auburn University. Who is he affiliated with?
The Trussville Tribune
That was all the press release said. It could just mean that he isn’t an Auburn University student or employee.
Suzanne Williams Crosby
I’m sure we’ll find out sooner or later.
Suzanne Williams Crosby
I’m sure we’ll find out sooner or later.
Bama MC
Nice fans barners lol
Bama MC
Nice fans barners lol
Christie Henson Mckee
So everyone that lives in Auburn is an Auburn fan? I dont think so Bama MC…thats just ignorant thinking
Suzanne Williams Crosby
Reading comprehension skills not up to par? 😉
Robi Miller Cole
Bama MC Bama has an entire list of nice fans…including yourself.
Robi Miller Cole
Bama MC Bama has an entire list of nice fans…including yourself.
Elena Llivina
Glad he was caught. That was just mean spirited and uncalled for.
Cecilia Kirk
Plenty of bama fans in the Auburn-Opelika area. Just some drunk idiot no matter what team he cheers for.
Jacob Smith
Means he lives in auburn AL but has nothing to do with the university. Most likely he just hates football, and sports in general
Suzanne Williams Crosby
But appears to love booze.
Robert Ferguson
Who would have ever guessed that it was an intoxicated person?
Robert Ferguson
The guy said he was an LSU fan so it wasn’t a Bama fan as some implied .
Michael Karhan
This is the curse from Bear Bryant
Jacky Reeser
I wish the wd leave them trees alone