A man has been arrested and charged following a suspicious fire at Sippo Lake Park in the early morning hours of March 25.
According to the Perry Township Police Department, officers and firefighters responded to the blaze around 3 a.m. on a bridge between the Exploration Gateway and the Marina. The fire was deemed suspicious and has since been ruled arson.
Following a joint investigation, Stark Park Rangers arrested Kory D. Bowden in connection with the fire. Bowden is charged with one count of arson, a fifth-degree felony, and two counts of vandalism — one a third-degree felony and the other a fourth-degree felony.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Perry Township Fire Department, the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Stark County Sheriff’s Office Metro Narcotics Unit, and the Perry Township Police Department. Authorities gave special recognition to the Stark Park Rangers for their work in identifying and apprehending the suspect.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Stark Park Rangers at 330-353-2377.
