NEWTON, Wis. (WFRV) – A 57-year-old Wisconsin man was taken into custody on Monday after allegedly starting a series of small grass fires in Manitowoc County.
According to the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office, deputies, along with the Manitowoc County Fire Investigation Unit, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and local volunteer fire departments, have been investigating numerous grass fires throughout the county for the past several months.
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Evidence collected suggested some of the fires were intentionally set. Investigators identified a person of interest, Kevin Staudinger of the Township of Franklin, and used investigative resources to gather additional evidence.
On Monday, March 17, deputies arrested Staudinger moments after he allegedly started a small grass fire in the Township of Newton. Investigators at the scene were able to extinguish the fire before it spread.
Following his arrest, sheriff’s office investigators obtained a search warrant for Staudinger’s residence. Deputies say they found additional evidence consistent with materials located at previous fire scenes.
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On Tuesday, March 18, Staudinger appeared in court, where he received a $5,000 bond with restrictions prohibiting him from possessing alcohol or fire accelerants. His initial court appearance is scheduled for April 7.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
