BENNINGTON — A Pownal man was charged with four misdemeanors after police said that when he was stopped in Bennington on July 22, he attempted to evade police investigation by claiming his house was on fire.

Tony A. Osgood, 39, of Pownal, pleaded innocent in Bennington criminal court on Monday to misdemeanor charges of giving emergency responders a false alarm, driving under the influence of alcohol for being impaired, driving under the influence of alcohol for being over the legal limit and providing false information to police in order to deflect an investigation from himself.

In an affidavit, Sgt. Michael Plusch, of the Bennington Police Department, said he saw a car driven by a man, later identified as Osgood, cross the double-yellow lines near the intersection of Benmont Avenue and Main Street in Bennington around 6:40 p.m. on July 22.

After initiating a traffic stop, Plusch said he spoke to Osgood who claimed he was in a hurry because his house was on fire. Plusch said he checked with dispatchers and learned there was no fire at Osgood’s home.

A preliminary breath test indicated Osgood’s blood alcohol content around 6:55 p.m. on July 22 was 0.108 percent. The legal limit in Vermont is 0.08 percent.