Oakdale Man Charged with Arson for Tanners Lake Park Fires

An Oakdale man was charged with arson for allegedly starting two fires at in late July last year.

Edward J. R. Simmons, 19, of Oakdale, allegedly lit a trashcan on fire at about 9:30 on July 28 and then let lit a port-a-potty on fire around 10:30 p.m. the next day, according to the Washington County District Court complaint.

The total cost to replace the damaged items was $1,022, the complaint says.

Simmons told police he only told people he started the portable toilet fire “to impress a girl,” the complaint says.

Police got a clue as to who might have set the fires from a letter sent to an Oakdale city employee Aug. 3 from a woman who said she was there when the portable toilet was set ablaze and that the person who did it was named “Eddy,” according to the court complaint. Police had surveillance video of both incidents, and they interviewed a juvenile who was shown in one of the surveillance videos, the complaint says.

The juvenile confirmed Simmons’ identity and said Simmons started the fires. One other juvenile shown in the videos also told police Simmons started the trashcan fire, the complaint says.

Simmons is charged with second- and third-degree arson, which each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

Simmons had his first appearance in court Jan. 11.