STATter 911

July 26 fire at H.C. Summers feed store. From Frederick County Sheriff's Office.

9NEWS NOW photographer Kurt Brooks, recuperating at his Frederick County, MD home from a busted leg, first warned me last week that there was likely an arsonist working the Jefferson section of the county. Today the Frederick County Sheriff's Office is holding a press conference to announce an arrest.

There have been three fires since July 26 and a 1997 fire. The man arrested, according to sheriff's deputies, was a juvenile when a fire occurred at his own home in 1997. Now an adult, he is accused of setting fires in a barn, a home and the H.C. Summers feed store. The last fire caused $725,000 damage.

More later.

4:00 PM update:

The man arrested is 28-year-old Wayne Duncan. We are told by Cpl. Jennfier Bailey, PIO for the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, that Wayne Duncan had been a member of Brunswick VFC in 1996. Her information is that Duncan did not respond on calls as a firefighter. Brunswick Chief Roy Lipscomb tells STATter 911 that Duncan filled out his application in 1996 and was accepted as a member. According to Chief Lipscomb, Duncan never showed up again at the firehouse and was dropped from the rolls the next year.

Here is the press release from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office:

On 08/11/2008 at approximately 5:25PM, Cpl. Jason West of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office arrested Wayne E. Duncan, age 28 of Jefferson, Maryland. Duncan was charged with two counts first-degree arson, second-degree arson, attempted first-degree arson, first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary, malicious burning, and four counts reckless endangerment. The charges stem from an intense criminal investigation into four suspicious fires that occurred in southern Frederick County between 09/03/1997 and 08/05/2008. Information regarding the fires is listed below:

§ September 3, 1997 at approximately 6:00PM
· Residential single family dwelling located in 600 block of North Maple Ave in Brunswick
· Home unoccupied
· Damage estimated at $6000
§ July 26, 2008 at approximately 1:30AM
· H C Summers Inc. 3900 block of Jefferson Pike
· Business unoccupied
· Structure and vehicle damages estimated at $750,000
§ August 1, 2008 at approximately 12:41AM
· Barn located in 3900 block of Jefferson Pike
· Barn unoccupied
· Damage estimated at $100
· Fire extinguished by a passerby
§ August 5, 2008 at approximately 1:20AM
· Residential single family dwelling located in the 4000 block of Jefferson Pike
· Home occupied by four family members and two dogs
§ Victims / Male age 33, male 58, female age 12, female age 30
§ All victims transported to Frederick Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries
§ One dog died as a result of smoke inhalation
· Damage estimated at $275,000

As a part of the criminal investigation, Sheriff’s Office investigators canvassed the Jefferson area for leads. After approximately 40 interviews, Duncan was identified as a suspect. He was arrested at his residence and transported to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center for processing.

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office has been working with the State and County Fire Marshals Offices, which identified the cause and origin of the fires. The investigation is continuing. Any media interested in obtaining photographs from the arson scenes should contact Cpl. Jennifer Bailey.

# posted by Dave Statter @ 11:35 AM