Chainsaw-wielding man accused of setting fire to picnic table

An man from Epping, New Hampshire, was arrested in Chester on Wednesday after he set a picnic table on fire and threatened a homeowner with a chainsaw, police say. Chester police said they were called to a home at about 10:45am to a report of an intoxicated man.



Police said the man was accused of going after the homeowner with a running chainsaw. "He had lit a picnic table on fire," said Chief William Burke. "Prior to getting there, (the officer) was also advised that the subject had started a chainsaw and was chasing the resident homeowner around the yard with a chainsaw." Burke said the homeowner was trying to defend himself with pepper spray.



He said the man, identified as Kyle Kappotis, of Epping, knew people at the house. When police arrived, the homeowner said Kappotis had fled into the woods. Police chased the man and yelled at him to stop, but he refused, police said. The man eventually stopped running, and police found him trying to hide under a fallen tree.


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They were able to take him into custody. Chief Burke says it was a strange and dangerous case that he won't soon forget. "Normally, Chester is busy on Halloween night and we see things like that on our main street here. But it's been quite a while since I've seen something as strange as this," he said. Kappotis was charged with criminal threatening, criminal mischief and resisting arrest. He was arraigned on Thursday, and bail was set at $200.