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Auburn man arrested after Toomer's Corner tree set on fire

College Football, Auburn Tigers

AUBURN, Ala. -- A 29-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly setting fire to one of the oak trees at Auburn's Toomer's Corner, where fans were celebrating an 18-13 victory over LSU.

Jochen Wiest was initially arrested on a charge of public intoxication, but Auburn police said in a news release Sunday that witnesses identified him in connection with the tree's burning.

Auburn police also said in the news release that the Wiest is from Auburn but isn't affiliated with the university. 

He was arrested on an unrelated charge of public intoxication, but police say witnesses identified him in connection with the tree's burning.

The statement says university officials are evaluating the damage to the tree and more charges are expected to be filed.

Video footage of the corner appeared to show a fan setting the toilet paper on one of the trees on fire, and the city fire department responded to it just after midnight. Firefighters extinguished the burning tree, and Auburn fans later re-rolled it once the flames had been doused.

Auburn this season renewed the tradition allowing fans to roll the trees with toilet paper after wins.

The trees were planted in 2015 after the original oaks were poisoned by Harvey Updyke Jr., an Alabama fan, in 2012. He served 76 days in jail after pleading guilty to one count of unlawful damage of an animal or crop facility. 

He was sentenced to six months in jail and credited with 104 days for time already served. He also was banned from attending any college sporting event and from setting foot on Auburn University property as part of his probation agreement.

ESPN's David Ching and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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