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A long-standing dispute came to a head on Monday night, when Conowingo resident Phillip Fleming allegedly set a 2019 BMW X3 on fire outside a Canning House Lane home and was caught on surveillance video.
Firefighters were able to contain the flames to the interior of the SUV before it spread, but it caused extensive damage and is believed to be a total loss, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal.
Investigators say that Fleming and his neighbors have an ongoing dispute, which resulted in the vehicle owner’s obtaining a peace order against Fleming earlier this year.
When Deputy State Fire Marshals attempted to contact Fleming, he began walking in the woods behind his house “in what is believed to be an effort to (elude) investigators," they noted.
Fleming was taken into custody and charged with:
- Second-degree arson;
- Malicious burning;
- First-degree malicious destruction of property;
- Second-degree malicious destruction of property;
- Failure to comply with a peace order.
On Tuesday morning he was still being held at the Cecil County Detention Center awaiting a bond review.
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