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Police & Fire
Firebug Arrested For Costly Arson Spree In Maryland: Officials Firebug Arrested For Costly Arson Spree In Maryland: Officials
Firebug Arrested For Costly Arson Spree In Maryland: Officials Police have identified and arrested a 23-year-old man who was taken into custody in connection to a string of fires that were set in Montgomery County last weekend. Officials say that Gaithersburg resident Fernando J.Herrera-Rivera is facing six counts of arson for setting several fires in his hometown on Sunday, Sept. 17. The long night for first responders began around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, when crews were called to the Holbrook Center in Gaithersburg following a report of two-alarm fires, prompting a heavy presence from the fire department. Update - Holbrook Center, 400blk S …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Series Of 'Suspicious Fires' Under Investigation In Maryland (PHOTOS) Series Of 'Suspicious Fires' Under Investigation In Maryland (PHOTOS)
Series Of 'Suspicious Fires' Under Investigation In Maryland (Photos) A series of suspicious fires are under investigation and an arsonist is reportedly in custody as officials in Montgomery County continue to investigate, officials say.  The long night began around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, when first responders were called to the Holbrook Center in Gaithersburg following a report of two-alarm fires, prompting a heavy presence from the fire department. Update - Holbrook Center, 400blk S Frederick Av; @mcfrs Fire Explosive Investigators indicate the several fires (at 3 separate fires) are suspicious in nature, damage is significant (included 2 differen…

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by Zak Failla
News
Former Police Chief In Maryland Gets Eight Life Sentences For Targeted Revenge Arson Attacks Former Police Chief In Maryland Gets Eight Life Sentences For Targeted Revenge Arson Attacks
Former Police Chief In Maryland Gets Eight Life Sentences For Targeted Revenge Arson Attacks A judge in Maryland turned up the heat on a former police chief who was convicted of intentionally setting multiple fires as a means of revenge during a near decade-long crime spree. Former Laurel Police Chief David Crawford, of Ellicott City, 71, will likely spend the rest of his days with some of the people he helped lock up after being sentenced to eight life sentences, plus 75 years in prison, for a serial arson case, the Howard County State's Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday, June 27. The State's Attorney's Office noted that "Crawfords actual executable prison sentence is two ye…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Found In Burning Apartment Was Shot, Killed In MD, Police Say Man Found In Burning Apartment Was Shot, Killed In MD, Police Say
Man Found In Burning Apartment Was Shot, Killed In MD, Police Say It didn't take long for police in Prince George's County to apprehend a man wanted for allegedly fatally shooting a man whose body was found in a burning apartment earlier this week.  Lanham resident Marcel Billups, 40, is facing multiple murder charges after being connected to the death of 56-year-old Roger Neal, of Hyattsville, authorities announced on Friday, May 5. The investigation was launched shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, when officers with the Hyattsville Police Department were called to the 6100 block of 42nd Avenue to assist Prince George's County firefighters who wer…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Arsonist Admits To Torching Temple Hills Apartment Arsonist Admits To Torching Temple Hills Apartment
Arsonist Admits To Torching Temple Hills Apartment A Temple Hills man has been charged with intentionally setting an apartment fire that caused upwards of a million dollars in damages and left several people without a home, according to officials. Local resident Anthony Cooper, 50, has been charged with arson and reckless endangerment after being identified by witnesses as a suspect who set an incendiary fire late on Thursday night in Temple Hills. The fire was reported at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, when first responders were called to the 3300 block of Huntley Square Drive, and Cooper was immediately identified as a su…

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by Zak Failla
News
Revengers Assemble: Shooter Seeking To Avenge Friend's Brother's Murder In Baltimore Convicted Revengers Assemble: Shooter Seeking To Avenge Friend's Brother's Murder In Baltimore Convicted
Revengers Assemble: Shooter Seeking To Avenge Friend's Brother's Murder In Baltimore Convicted On Jan 20, 2020, Murphy and Cornelius Bruce set out to seek revenge against Christopher Brown for the murder of the latter’s brother, Cordelle Bruce, the previous week. Prosecutors say that Murphy and Bruce drove a rented black Ford F-150 to the 1000 block of Reverdy Road, where they found Christopher Brown and began shooting at him. During the shootout, a bullet meant for Brown struck Cornelius Bruce, killing him. In an attempt to cover up the actions and dupe police investigators, Murphy then drove the rented pick-up truck with Bruce’s body inside to an abandoned field in the 2800 block o…

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by Zak Failla
News
Former Police Chief In Maryland Convicted Of Targeted Arson Attacks: State's Attorney Former Police Chief In Maryland Convicted Of Targeted Arson Attacks: State's Attorney
Former Police Chief In Maryland Convicted Of Targeted Arson Attacks: State's Attorney The Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office is seeking multiple life sentences for a former police chief in Maryland who was connected to a dozen different arson cases that spanned multiple counties over two decades. David Crawford, 71, was found guilty by a jury on multiple attempted murder and other charges for his lengthy crime spree that stretched out for years, Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson announced on Thursday, March 9. Specifically, Crawford was found guilty on Thursday of: Eight counts of first-degree attempted murder; Three counts of first-degree arson; Malicious …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Charged After Pouring Gasoline On Himself, Setting Fire To Calvert County Home: Officials Man Charged After Pouring Gasoline On Himself, Setting Fire To Calvert County Home: Officials
Man Charged After Pouring Gasoline On Himself, Setting Fire To Calvert County Home: Officials The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office has charged a Huntingtown man with allegedly pouring gasoline and intentionally setting his Calvert County home ablaze, according to officials on Monday, March 6. Maximillian X. Robinson, 29, is facing an arson charge following an incident where he doused himself in gasoline at a Huntingtown home. Police say that in late February, members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and Huntingtown Fire Department responded to the 3300 block of Ben Oak Drive, where there were reports of a man pouring gasoline on himself and other items. According to the f…

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by Zak Failla
News
Pair Faces Life In Prison For Using Explosive Device To Rob 7-Eleven ATMs In DMV Region Pair Faces Life In Prison For Using Explosive Device To Rob 7-Eleven ATMs In DMV Region
Pair Faces Life In Prison For Using Explosive Device To Rob 7-Eleven ATMs In DMV Region Two men are facing federal charges in Maryland for an explosive scheme that saw them set fire to convenience stores in an effort to rob ATMs, according to officials. Stephen Kennedy, 33, of Temple Hills, Maryland, and Donnell Kelly, 33, of Washington, DC, have been charged on a 10-count indictment by a federal grand jury on a host of charges following a yearlong conspiracy. Prosecutors say that between January 2021 and January 2022, the pair conspired to commit arsons at 7-Eleven stores so that they could obtain cash contained in ATMs inside the stores.  Specifically, the indictment …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Maryland Firebug Who Intentionally Set House On Fire During Thanksgiving Charged With Arson Maryland Firebug Who Intentionally Set House On Fire During Thanksgiving Charged With Arson
Maryland Firebug Who Intentionally Set House On Fire During Thanksgiving Charged With Arson A 41-year-old man who intentionally burned his own house to the ground on Thanksgiving will face decades in prison after being apprehended for arson, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Talbot County resident Fred Rider III is facing multiple counts of arson and other charges for allegedly setting his own house on fire on Nov. 24, 2022, officials said. According to the fire marshal, approximately four dozen firefighters were called to 27930 Peach Orchard Road in Easton on Thanksgiving to extinguish a fire that was reported in the home. It took firefighters an estimated 30 minutes…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Fiery Residential Shooting Under Investigation in Prince George's County, Police Say Fiery Residential Shooting Under Investigation in Prince George's County, Police Say
Fiery Residential Shooting Under Investigation in Prince George's County, Police Say Police in Prince George's have released explosive photos as they seek the public’s assistance in tracking down a suspect wanted for arson and for firing shots into a Greenbelt residence. An investigation was launched by the Greenbelt Police Department on Saturday, Feb. 4 following an incident that was caught on camera in the 6200 block of Breezewood Court, authorities announced. According to police, a suspect wearing an appropriate face covering set fire to the door of a residence before shots were reportedly fired into the apartment. The suspect was described as being a dark-skinned man …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Couple Charged In Connection With Vacant Harford County House Blaze: Maryland Fire Marshal Couple Charged In Connection With Vacant Harford County House Blaze: Maryland Fire Marshal
Couple Charged In Connection With Vacant Harford County House Blaze: Maryland Fire Marshal A local couple has been identified as suspects and implicated as the firebugs who allegedly set an expensive house fire in mid-November that has been under investigation for months. Baltimore County resident Noah Larkins, 22, of Nottingham, and Monica Boesch, 24, of Abingdon, are facing arson and other charges after being caught on camera running away from a vacant house fire late last year. The wanted firebugs in Havre De GraceOffice of The State Fire Marshal First responders from the Susquehanna Hose Company responded to a vacant home owned by SHK Holdings in the 2000 block of Pulaski…

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by Zak Failla