FIVE. >> WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH BREAKING NEWS AS WE COME ON THE AIR HERE AT FIVE. A 19 YEAR OLD CHARGED WITH SETTING FIRE TO A NEW BERLIN PLAYGROUND. >> 12 NEWS HAS OBTAINED NEW RING VIDEO OF THE ARSON. >> WHAT IS THAT? IT WAS A MERRY GO ROUND. DID YOU SEE ANYBODY? I SAW NO ONE. >> THE FIRES AT BEAR PARK. SO HOT IT MELTED AN ENTIRE MERRY GO ROUND. >> AND THE SUSPECT TONIGHT. BRADDOCK. SHERWOOD TELLING POLICE HE DID THIS WELL TO GET ATTENTION. AS 12 NEWS FLEMING REPORTS TONIGHT HERE AT FIVE NEIGHBORS JUMPED INTO ACTION AFTER SPOTTING THE FLAMES. >> SIGNS OF A FIRE SCATTERED ACROSS THE PARK FRIDAY MORNING. RESIDENTS CALLING 911 AROUND 430 TO REPORT THE MERRY GO ROUND. >> THE MERRY GO ROUND IS ON FIRE. >> WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. >> A CALLER ON THE LINE STATING THAT THERE WAS A GUY WITH A GAS CAN AND LIT THE WHOLE PARK ON FIRE. >> 1 TO 2 NEIGHBORS RUSHING TO THROW WATER ON THE FIRE. THE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYGROUND. >> I WAS PRETTY SHOCKED. I MEAN, IT’S NORMALLY A SAFE PARK. >> NOW, THE SCENE OF ARSON. THE FIRE BURNING FOR A WHOLE HOUR BEFORE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED AND PUT IT OUT. POLICE OFFICERS TALKING WITH WITNESSES TO PIN DOWN A SUSPECT. >> THERE HAD BEEN SOME WITNESS ACCOUNTS THAT THERE HAD BEEN A MAN IN THE AREA WITH A GAS CAN. AND THEN WITNESSES SAW THE SAME PERSON THEN TRYING TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A LITTLE BIT LATER. >> OFFICERS FINDING A 19 YEAR OLD MAN MATCHING THAT DESCRIPTION IN A NEARBY YARD, ARRESTING HIM. POLICE SAY HE LIVES IN THE AREA, HAD BEEN DRINKING AND USED FOR MOLOTOV COCKTAILS TO START THE FIRE. >> OFFICERS BELIEVED HE APPEARED NERVOUS. THEY WEREN’T SURE WHY HE WOULD BE OUT IN THE AREA AT THAT TIME. THE SUSPECT COOPERATED WITH POLICE. THAT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW. >> I FEEL REASSURED THAT THEY FOUND OUT WHO DID THIS. YOU’RE NOT LEFT LINGERING AND WONDERING WHAT’S GOING ON. IT IS A LITTLE STRANGE THAT IT WAS SOMEONE NEARBY, BECAUSE EVERYONE AROUND HERE SEEMS PRETTY CALM. >> MEANTIME, CITY CREWS ARE CLEANING UP IN THE PARK IS STILL OPEN IN NEW BERLIN. EMANI FLEMING WISN12 NEWS. >> AT FIVE. SHERWOOD APPEARING IN WAUKESHA COUNTY COURT LATE THIS AFTERNOON, PROSECUTORS CHARGING HIM WITH ARSON, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND MAKING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS, ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT. SHERWOOD TOLD POLICE HE HAD BEEN DRINKING AND WAS ON FACETIME WITH SOME FRIENDS AND WANTED ATTENTION. HE ADMITTED HE TOOK THREE VIDEOS ON HIS PHONE OF HIM LIGHTING AND THROWING THE MOLOTOV COCKTAILS. INVESTIGATORS SAY SHERWOOD PLANNED THE POST OR PLAN TO POST THOSE VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. RATHER, THE COURT SETTING. $15,000 BOND. >> THE DEFENDANT DID NOT ONLY ENGAGE IN THIS BEHAVIOR ONCE, BUT EVEN AFTER SEEING THE DESTRUCTIVE FORCE OF THROWING THE FIRST MOLOTOV COCKTAIL, HE DID NOT CALL FOR HELP OR MAKE THE DECISION TO STOP WHAT HE WAS DOING. INSTEAD, HE CONTINUED AND LIT THREE MORE O
19-year-old charged with setting fire to playground with Molotov cocktails
Braddock R. Sherwood claimed act was a series of ‘Jackass’ that he planned to post on social media
Prosecutors charged a 19-year-old New Berlin man Friday in connection with a fire that destroyed playground equipment at Biwer Park, according to a criminal complaint filed in Waukesha County.Charges follow playground fireBraddock R. Sherwood faces three felony charges: possession or manufacture of Molotov cocktails, arson of property other than a building and felony criminal damage to property.New Berlin Police and Fire Departments responded to 3495 S. Sandalwood Drive at approximately 4:40 a.m. Friday, following a report of a fire in the park. Responders extinguished the flames, which destroyed a large, plastic-covered commercial merry-go-round. According to the complaint, the cost to remove the debris and replace the playground equipment will exceed $2,500.Video evidence and suspect statementsThe complaint says Sherwood, whose residence faces the park, initially told officers he had been sleeping and saw an individual in dark clothing near the fire. However, neighbors provided police with doorbell camera footage recorded between 3 and 4:40 a.m. The video allegedly shows Sherwood walking back and forth between the park and his home, taking photos and videos of the fire on his cell phone, and later attempting to extinguish the growing flames with a bucket of water.Watch Video of fire: Investigators recovered broken glass from juice and sauce bottles at the scene, which Sherwood’s mother confirmed had previously been in their home. Following his arrest, Sherwood admitted to constructing the incendiary devices and starting the fires. According to the complaint, he told officers he was on FaceTime with friends and wanted attention, claiming the act was a series of “Jackass” that he planned to post on social media.Police reported that Sherwood emitted a strong odor of intoxicants and registered a 0.130 on a preliminary breath test, the complaint says. Next steps and potential penaltiesIf convicted, Sherwood faces up to six years in prison for the Molotov cocktail charge, and up to three years and six months in prison for each of the arson and property damage charges. Each of the three felony counts also carries a potential fine of up to $10,000. Future court dates for the defendant have not yet been scheduled. Top HeadlinesMPS board passes $1.6 billion budgetWisconsin gubernatorial candidate admits to stealing campaign signs Man pinned under boat, killed at Milwaukee boat storage businessWATCH Gun store video shows illegal purchase attempt
Prosecutors charged a 19-year-old New Berlin man Friday in connection with a fire that destroyed playground equipment at Biwer Park, according to a criminal complaint filed in Waukesha County.
Charges follow playground fire
Braddock R. Sherwood faces three felony charges: possession or manufacture of Molotov cocktails, arson of property other than a building and felony criminal damage to property.
New Berlin Police and Fire Departments responded to 3495 S. Sandalwood Drive at approximately 4:40 a.m. Friday, following a report of a fire in the park. Responders extinguished the flames, which destroyed a large, plastic-covered commercial merry-go-round. According to the complaint, the cost to remove the debris and replace the playground equipment will exceed $2,500.
Video evidence and suspect statements
The complaint says Sherwood, whose residence faces the park, initially told officers he had been sleeping and saw an individual in dark clothing near the fire. However, neighbors provided police with doorbell camera footage recorded between 3 and 4:40 a.m. The video allegedly shows Sherwood walking back and forth between the park and his home, taking photos and videos of the fire on his cell phone, and later attempting to extinguish the growing flames with a bucket of water.
Watch Video of fire:
Investigators recovered broken glass from juice and sauce bottles at the scene, which Sherwood’s mother confirmed had previously been in their home. Following his arrest, Sherwood admitted to constructing the incendiary devices and starting the fires. According to the complaint, he told officers he was on FaceTime with friends and wanted attention, claiming the act was a series of “Jackass” that he planned to post on social media.
Police reported that Sherwood emitted a strong odor of intoxicants and registered a 0.130 on a preliminary breath test, the complaint says.
Next steps and potential penalties
If convicted, Sherwood faces up to six years in prison for the Molotov cocktail charge, and up to three years and six months in prison for each of the arson and property damage charges. Each of the three felony counts also carries a potential fine of up to $10,000. Future court dates for the defendant have not yet been scheduled.
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