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Joshua Christian-Stanley Jackson, 21, of Prince Frederick, was taken into custody on Friday, Feb. 28, after investigators determined he was responsible for a vacant commercial building fire in Charles County, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Fire crews responded to 12535 Crain Highway around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, after receiving a 911 call about a structure fire, authorities said.
12535 Crain Highway in Charles County
When they arrived, they found a blaze inside the vacant building and quickly extinguished it.
Investigators soon learned the first 911 call came from Jackson, who claimed he was returning from a DoorDash delivery in Virginia when he spotted the fire and described its progression in detail on social media, officials said.
However, detectives discovered Jackson had never traveled to Virginia that night and had previously made multiple false 911 calls in Charles, St. Mary's, and Calvert counties, investigators said.
During questioning, Jackson allegedly admitted to setting the fire, explaining that he had made profits from filming emergency responses for his social media accounts, according to authorities.
"Arson is a serious crime that puts lives at risk and places an unnecessary burden on our first responders," said Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray.
"We want to remind the public that making false 911 calls is a criminal offense, and anyone who engages in such reckless behavior will be held accountable."
Jackson was charged with:
- Second-degree arson;
- Malicious burning;
- Causing a false fire alarm.
He is currently being held at the Charles County Detention Center without bond.
Deputy State Fire Marshals are continuing to investigate other fires and false reports linked to Jackson, and additional charges may be forthcoming, officials said.
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