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A former Newtown Community Center employee has been arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed an exterior bathroom at the community center on Feb. 27, 2022.

Firefighters responded to a structure fire at the Newtown Community Center the evening of Feb. 27, 2022.

Firefighters responded to a structure fire at the Newtown Community Center the evening of Feb. 27, 2022.

Firefighters responded to a structure fire at the Newtown Community Center the evening of Feb. 27, 2022.

Newtown firefighters responded to a structure fire at the Newtown Community Center the evening of Feb. 27, 2022.

NEWTOWN — A former Newtown Community Center employee is facing felony charges after police say he set fire to an exterior bathroom at the center earlier this year.

George DeWitt Wight Ferris, 26, was arrested and charged with first-degree arson and first-degree criminal mischief Wednesday, following a three-month investigation into a February fire on the community center’s Simpson Street property.

Firefighters and police responded to the center after staff reported a burning odor in the building around 6:20 p.m. Feb. 27.

A structure fire was confirmed minutes later, after an employee observed flames and smoke coming from an outdoor men’s bathroom on the property. The community center was evacuated and the fire extinguished with no injuries reported.

Police said there was “significant damage” to the restroom, and the fire marshal estimated the repair cost to be around $12,000 to $15,000.

Investigators determined that the fire started in a wall-mounted garbage — the contents of which were ignited and “proceeded to burn and light the paper towel dispenser above the garbage on fire,” according to the warrant for Ferris’ arrest.

After reviewing building security camera footage showing a person entering the bathroom prior to the blaze, police said they believed — based on the suspect’s actions and the location where the fire originated — the fire had been intentionally set.

The footage showed the suspect getting out of a black Toyota Prius and running into the restroom around 5:58 p.m., according to police.

When the suspect exited the restroom a minute later, police said “a reflection of the orange glow of flames” could be seen on the inside of the door as it closed.

Police said the suspect then walked back to the car, drove off the property and parked on Simpson Street with the vehicle facing the community center and its headlamps turned off, “as if to monitor the situation and/or the response to the fire at the building.”

After about 15 minutes, police said the vehicle backed out of the space and left.

The next day, authorities learned that Ferris — a former Newtown Community Center employee — matched the suspect’s description and drove a black Toyota Prius.

The director of the community center told police Ferris’ last day of employment was Dec. 31, and that he “never had any behavioral issues at work, was an outstanding employee and left on his own terms,” according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

After speaking to the community center director, Detective Richard Monckton was alerted to a black Toyota Prius parked along Simpson Street in the same spot the arson suspect had parked the night before.

The driver not only matched the suspect’s description, but had on a black puffy winter coat like one the suspect was seen wearing in the security camera footage, according to Monckton, who said it’s “not unusual for arsonists to remain somewhere on scene or later return to the scene to observe the fire and/or aftermath.”

When the driver returned to the car and pulled off, Monckton said he followed the vehicle to a residence in town, where he later learned Ferris lived, according to the warrant. The vehicle was also found to be registered to Ferris, according to police.

The next day, police executed search warrants of Ferris’ home, person and vehicle and seized the black puffy winter jacket, along with other clothing items and a box of unopened storm-proof matches.

Monckton said Ferris “did not seem surprised by the accusation or deny involvement” when informed that he was a suspect in the investigation into the Feb. 27 arson incident, and declined to speak with police about it.

Ferris was arrested on a warrant Wednesday and arraigned in state Superior Court in Danbury that same day.

He’s pleaded not guilty to both charges and remains held on $300,000 bond, according to court records. His next court date is scheduled for June 1.

Kendra Baker is a reporter for the News-Times who previously worked as a general assignment reporter for The Wilton Bulletin. Before The Bulletin, Kendra freelanced for The Redding Pilot and interned for the New Haven Independent. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in psychology. Her work has also been published on ConnecticutHistory.org.