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Malicious destruction of property

Police & Fire
Seance Sparks Blaze, Barricade, Arson Arrest In Maryland: Fire Marshal Seance Sparks Blaze, Barricade, Arson Arrest In Maryland: Fire Marshal
Seance Sparks Blaze, Barricade, Arson Arrest In Maryland: Fire Marshal A Maryland woman’s attempt to summon spirits may have backfired—literally—when she allegedly set her apartment on fire, then locked herself in a rental office, officials said. April Niesha Hough, 45, of Hagerstown, is facing arson charges after claiming she was performing a seance before the fire broke out at The Ridge Apartments on Garden Lane, according to investigators. Fire crews responded around 4 p.m. on Friday, March 14, after smoke started pouring from the three-story building. Tenants managed to escape after a fire alarm was activated. That’s when things got even weirder. Investi…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Children Hid Upstairs Calling 911 As Armed Teens Broke Into Maryland Home: Sheriff Children Hid Upstairs Calling 911 As Armed Teens Broke Into Maryland Home: Sheriff
Children Hid Upstairs Calling 911 As Armed Teens Broke Into Maryland Home: Sheriff A terrifying home invasion in Maryland sent two juveniles scrambling for safety as armed intruders shattered a glass door and barged inside, all while security cameras rolled, officials said. It happened around March 3 in the 11400 block of Leland Place in Waldorf, according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Two young residents were upstairs when they heard the break-in, prompting them to frantically call 911 and report that someone had just entered their home. By the time officers arrived, the suspects had already fled. A parent arrived home shortly after and reviewed the home secu…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Content Creator Calling In Fake Fires For Clicks Back In Custody: Maryland Fire Marshal Content Creator Calling In Fake Fires For Clicks Back In Custody: Maryland Fire Marshal
Content Creator Calling In Fake Fires For Clicks Back In Custody: Maryland Fire Marshal A Maryland social media creator accused of setting fires and making fake 911 calls for content has been arrested again—this time in St. Mary’s County—just days after being released on home detention, officials said. Joshua Christian-Stanley Jackson, 21, of Prince Frederick, was taken into custody Wednesday, March 5, after investigators linked him to another arson case and a separate false 911 call, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office. Jackson, who was initially arrested last week for allegedly setting fire to a vacant commercial building in Charles County, had been release…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Knife-Wielding Man Causes Chaos In Maryland Home Invasion: Sheriff Knife-Wielding Man Causes Chaos In Maryland Home Invasion: Sheriff
Knife-Wielding Man Causes Chaos In Maryland Home Invasion: Sheriff A Maryland man armed with two large knives caused a chaotic scene in Charles County, breaking into a home and shattering items inside before officers were able to deescalate the situation, authorities said. The Charles County Sheriff's Office said officers were called to the 9200 block of Kris Drive around February 28 for reports of a burglary in progress. Investigators said Michael Santa Mendez, 42, of White Plains, first approached a random woman outside a home and asked if he could go inside—while holding two knives.  When she refused, Mendez dropped the weapons and ran to another …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Apartment Arsonist Damaged Sprinkler At YMCA: Maryland Fire Marshal Apartment Arsonist Damaged Sprinkler At YMCA: Maryland Fire Marshal
Apartment Arsonist Damaged Sprinkler At YMCA: Maryland Fire Marshal A Maryland man already jailed for arson is facing new charges after investigators say he intentionally damaged a fire sprinkler at the YMCA where he was living, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Donald Lee Martin Jr., of Cumberland, was served a criminal summons at the Allegany County Detention Center, where he remains held without bond, the Maryland State Fire Marshal announced on Tuesday, March 4. The charges stem from an incident on Saturday, Feb. 15, when staff at the Cumberland YMCA reported that Martin deliberately damaged a fire sprinkler in a stairwell.  The vand…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
DUI Driver Slams Into Home, Lands In Culvert After Hit-Run In Maryland: Sheriff DUI Driver Slams Into Home, Lands In Culvert After Hit-Run In Maryland: Sheriff
DUI Driver Slams Into Home, Lands In Culvert After Hit-Run In Maryland: Sheriff A drunk driver slammed into a Maryland home, causing it to shake from the impact, before speeding off and crashing into a culvert, deputies said. The chaotic crash happened earlier this month, when deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff's Office responded to the 3700 block of Larkview Court in Dunkirk for a hit-and-run. Homeowners told deputies they were inside when they heard a loud bang and felt the house shake.  A resident ran outside and saw a Jeep Crossover against the front of the house, with landscaping damage, before it sped away from the scene, authorities said. Deputies c…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Victims Watch Helplessly As Gunman Slashes Tires In Maryland Driveway: Sheriff Victims Watch Helplessly As Gunman Slashes Tires In Maryland Driveway: Sheriff
Victims Watch Helplessly As Gunman Slashes Tires In Maryland Driveway: Sheriff A La Plata man is facing multiple charges after allegedly pulling a gun on a group of people before slashing tires outside a Lexington Park home in the middle of the night, authorities said. St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a Carefree Way residence shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16, after receiving a call about an armed suspect, officials said. When deputies arrived, they learned the suspect had already fled the scene, but witnesses had plenty to say. Investigators say 41-year-old Adam David Chaney approached the home, prompting multiple people to step outside. At…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Graffiti Rampage in Downtown Frederick Leads to New Jersey Man's Arrest: Police Graffiti Rampage in Downtown Frederick Leads to New Jersey Man's Arrest: Police
Graffiti Rampage in Downtown Frederick Leads to New Jersey Man's Arrest: Police A New Jersey man accused of defacing downtown Frederick with pink graffiti has been arrested after police tracked him down to an Airbnb and later found his vehicle in Urbana, authorities announced. Frederick Police say Toms River resident Daniel K. Simmons, 35, was taken into custody earlier this month following an investigation that connected him to a series of vandalism incidents along North Market Street that targeted city property and a local business. According to police, officers responded to reports of graffiti markings on trash cans, an electrical box, a parking meter, and exterior …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Assault Suspect Rams Police Vehicle During Pursuit In Southern Maryland: Sheriff Assault Suspect Rams Police Vehicle During Pursuit In Southern Maryland: Sheriff
Assault Suspect Rams Police Vehicle During Pursuit In Southern Maryland: Sheriff A Maryland woman is facing multiple charges after an assault report led to a high-speed police pursuit that ended with her ramming a patrol vehicle and nearly hitting a deputy, authorities said. Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported assault in progress at a home on Liberty Street in Lexington Park on Wednesday, Jan. 29, when they learned the suspect had fled the scene in a vehicle. Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as 26-year-old Sabrina Brianna Thompson, refused to pull over.  Instead, she led officers on a purs…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Social Media Clue Cracks Case Of Arson At Maryland Church: Fire Marshal Social Media Clue Cracks Case Of Arson At Maryland Church: Fire Marshal
Social Media Clue Cracks Case Of Arson At Maryland Church: Fire Marshal An investigator randomly scrolling through Facebook was key in apprehending a man who set a tree ablaze at a Maryland church last month, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Shortly after 5 p.m. on Dec. 9, first responders were called to the Radiant Life Church in Cumberland, when a tree was found burning outside, which was extinguished within minutes. An investigation led by the Cumberland Fire Marshal's Office determined the fire was intentionally set, prompting assistance from the State Fire Marshal, who were able to obtain surveillance footage that captured the suspect in …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Double Trouble: Second DUI Arrest Made After Passenger Flees Traffic Stop In Maryland: Sheriff Double Trouble: Second DUI Arrest Made After Passenger Flees Traffic Stop In Maryland: Sheriff
Double Trouble: Second DUI Arrest Made After Passenger Flees Traffic Stop In Maryland: Sheriff A Calvert County traffic stop spiraled into chaos when a passenger, instead of calling for a ride as instructed, took the wheel and made a wild getaway—while allegedly drunk himself, officials said. It all started late last month when a sheriff's deputy spotted a vehicle swerving along Route 260 near Brickhouse Road in Dunkirk, prompting him to stop the driver.  According to a spokesperson from the Calvert County Sheriff's Office, After pulling the car over, officers discovered the driver, Jervis Jerome James, 52, of Glenn Dale, smelled strongly of alcohol.  Field sobriety tests …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Deputy Fire Chief In Maryland Accused Of Setting Blaze He Helped Extinguish Deputy Fire Chief In Maryland Accused Of Setting Blaze He Helped Extinguish
Deputy Fire Chief In Maryland Accused Of Setting Blaze He Helped Extinguish A Cecil County fire official has been arrested for allegedly setting a brushfire on the property of a local addiction treatment center, leaving a community stunned. Robert "Bobby" Bennett, 39, the deputy fire chief of Hacks Point Volunteer Fire Company, was taken into custody Tuesday morning after investigators identified him as the person allegedly responsible for a blaze earlier this month, according to the Maryland Fire Marshal. The incident occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 4 when a brushfire burned two acres of land on Grove Neck Road at the Recovery Centers of America’s property, officials sa…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Arrested For Arson After Altercation Involving Maryland Neighbor: Fire Marshal Man Arrested For Arson After Altercation Involving Maryland Neighbor: Fire Marshal
Man Arrested For Arson After Altercation Involving Maryland Neighbor: Fire Marshal An argument over stolen property led to arson charges for a 30-year-old Maryland man who allegedly attempted to start a fire outside of a neighbor's home on Sunday afternoon. Lexington Park resident Cesar Augusto Gonzalez-Lopez was arrested at around noon on Monday afternoon when members of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office were called to the 46000 block of Sue Drive to investigate a blaze, according to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Investigators say that a dispute over allegedly stolen property the previous night between Gonzalez-Lopez and the homeowner led to th…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Estranged Boyfriend Set Fire To Ex's Mercedes In Maryland, Marshal Says Estranged Boyfriend Set Fire To Ex's Mercedes In Maryland, Marshal Says
Estranged Boyfriend Set Fire To Ex's Mercedes In Maryland, Marshal Says The man responsible for setting a woman's Mercedes on fire has been arrested, officials say. Crews from the Hagerstown Fire Department responded at approximately 5:15 a.m. on Sept. 8 to the 1000 block of Security Road to investigate a reported car fire. Firefighters responded to the scene, where they found the fire was already extinguished, though the vehicle suffered significant damage. The aftermath of the fire in Washington County. Office Of The Maryland State Fire Marshal According to investigators from the Maryland Fire Marshal, the cause of the fire was determined to be incen…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Eleven 'Unlawful Exhibition Driving' Events Dismantled Overnight: Maryland State Police Eleven 'Unlawful Exhibition Driving' Events Dismantled Overnight: Maryland State Police
Eleven 'Unlawful Exhibition Driving' Events Dismantled Overnight: Maryland State Police Seven people were arrested over the course of six hours as Maryland State Police broke up nearly a dozen "unlawful exhibition driving events" overnight, officials say. Troopers were busy on Saturday night and Sunday morning in Baltimore, Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties, responding to several locations in the region where up to 200 people gathered in parking lots and attempted to shut down certain intersections. Police say that they responded to these locations:  10:40 p.m.: 5710 A Wabash Ave. in Baltimore; 11:10 p.m.: 2880-2894 Rolling Road in Windsor Mill; 11:49 p.m.: 3…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Teen Brothers Playing With Fire Burn Down Maryland Playground Equipment, Document It: Sheriff Teen Brothers Playing With Fire Burn Down Maryland Playground Equipment, Document It: Sheriff
Teen Brothers Playing With Fire Burn Down Maryland Playground Equipment, Document It: Sheriff Two teen brothers caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage at a Frederick County playground after playing with fire and burning some of the equipment, according to the sheriff's office. In late June, first responders were called to Green Hill Park in the 2800 block of Decatur Drive in Adamstown, where they were met by playground equipment on fire. The fire caused extensive damage to several pieces of playground equipment that was estimated at approximately $230,000. During the investigation, two brothers - 14 and 15 years old - from the neighborhood were identified as those respon…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Armed Man Shot TV, Threatened Pair Before Arrest In Charles County, Sheriff Says Armed Man Shot TV, Threatened Pair Before Arrest In Charles County, Sheriff Says
Armed Man Shot TV, Threatened Pair Before Arrest In Charles County, Sheriff Says A man who fired shots at a TV and threatened two people inside a Charles County home was apprehended peacefully due to the measured work of officers, according to the sheriff's office. La Plata resident Alfredo Arroyo, 45, is facing charges following an incident that played out over the weekend that led to a large police presence and could have ended tragically if not for officers de-escalating the situation, officials said on Wednesday. On the morning of Saturday, July 13, officers were called to the La Plata home, where there was a report of shots fired.  "Responding officers i…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Known Arsonist Set Commercial Storage Trailer Ablaze In Maryland: Fire Marshal Known Arsonist Set Commercial Storage Trailer Ablaze In Maryland: Fire Marshal
Known Arsonist Set Commercial Storage Trailer Ablaze In Maryland: Fire Marshal A man known to set several trash fires earlier this week is accused of escalating matters in Carroll County after allegedly setting a storage trailer ablaze.  The Maryland Fire Marshal announced on Saturday that Joseph Affayroux, 42, has been arrested and now faces arson and other charges in connection to a fire that was knocked down by the Reese Volunteer Fire Company and other nearby agencies on Friday afternoon. Joseph Affayroux Office Of The Maryland State Fire Marshal Shortly after 4 p.m. on July 12, crews were called to the 3100 block of Baltimore Boulevard in Finksb…

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by Zak Failla