Posted on 12/18/2004 11:43:28 AM PST by BenLurkin
LA PLATA, Md. (AP) - Three more people were arrested Saturday in connection with the largest residential arson in Maryland history, a collection of blazes that caused $10 million in damage to new houses in an upscale development near a nature preserve. The three men were arrested early Saturday, federal and local officials said. They would not immediately discuss a possible motive.
The U.S. attorney's office in Baltimore identified the men as Patrick Stephen Walsh, 20, of Fort Washington; Jeremy Daniel Parady, 20, of Accokeek; and Michael McIntosh Everhart, 20, of Waldorf. In a recorded message, a spokeswoman for the office said the men had been charged with arson.
"We're 100 percent sure that he is innocent," said a man who answered the phone at Walsh's home and identified himself only as Walsh's father.
Charges earlier were filed against a security guard who told police he was upset by the way he had been treated by his employer.
The Dec. 6 fires at the Hunters Brooke development destroyed 10 houses and damaged 16 others. Many of the houses were still under construction. The fires broke out almost simultaneously over a 10-acre site, leading investigators to believe that more than one person may have been responsible.
On Friday, Aaron L. Speed, 21, who worked at the development for Security Services of America, appeared in court on a charge of arson. He said he was upset that his employer did not show enough sympathy after his infant son died this year, according to court documents.
Speed came under suspicion after allegedly failing a polygraph and telling investigators he was home in bed when a colleague phoned to tell him of the fires, although cell phone records showed the call went through a cell phone tower closer to the scene, according to court documents.
According to an affidavit, Speed told authorities "that he was present at the location, along with others with whom he was acquainted, while the fires were being lit."
"Speed claimed that he knew of the plan by others known to him to set a fire at the location," the affidavit continued. "He also asserted that he told others how to gain access to the site."
Early on, there was speculation the fires were set by environmental extremists, because some environmental groups had complained the houses threatened a nearby bog. But no evidence has been found to support that theory, police said.
Speed told police he left his security job from August to October because of his employer's "indifference to the death of his infant son," according to court papers.
Speed told investigators that his son, one of twins, died in April, when he was about three months old. His wife's stepfather said the baby, Christian A. Speed, died of intestinal complications.
When asked who might have set the Hunters Brooke subdivision ablaze, Speed told police "Someone who works at the site and recently experienced a great loss," according to the documents.
Speed's attorney, John C. Chamble, and his relatives declined to comment Friday at the courthouse.
Security Services of America has said only that it is cooperating with authorities. The security firm is based in North Carolina and has operations in more than 20 states. According to a recent survey in Security Magazine, it had revenue of more than $85 million in 2002 and more than 4,500 full- and part-time workers.
Fox News just stated that the arrest of the 3 additional suspects further reduced the possibility that the arson was related to eco-terrorism. No data, just the statement. Lacking any further information I'd say that it may just as easily increase the probabability (Disgruntled security guard helps "environmental activists...."). We'll see.
probabability
probability
These "environment" criminals should be assigned to chain gangs that fuction ONLY in sewer tunnels and pipes...
It will allow them to stay REAL close to the "nature" that best fits their attitudes and mental group...
Semper Fi
This is near where I went to high school. I talked with a friend who still lives there and the sense was "this doesn't happen in southern MD! We vote republican down here!"
Here's some stuff from Google on two of the names of the new perps. Was/Is Parady a firefighter?
http://www.avfd24.com/members.php
http://members.fortunecity.com/ravflk/
Google cache on possible Everhart
http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:s9FXHjEHg1QJ:vrw.esmotorsports.com/member.php%3Faction%3Dprofile%26UID%3D487+%22michael+everhart%22+Waldorf&hl=en
Three More Arrested in Fires That Caused Millions in Damage to New Homes in Maryland
This is ten million dollars in damage that will be covered by the insurance company who will pass the bill on to us in the form of higher premiums.
All of these worthless morons will get minor or suspended sentences.
Meanwhile, good men are dying to defend the interests of this country around the world.
What's wrong with this picture?
Whassup wid dat?
identified himself only as Walsh's father.
That should read "Walsh Daddy Father".
FMCDH(BITS)
When police release information about a suspect, they always release the full name and the press simply parrots it back out. That's why notorious people are usually know by three names -- John Wayne Gacy, Lee Harvey Oswald, James Earl Ray, Hillary Rodham Clinton.....
It's usually humans that start fires.
On local news the last couple of nights one of the arrested persons being brought to the courthouse was wearing an Accokeek Volunteer Fire Department T-shirt.
Ummm..the whole point is that these guys turned out not to be eco-terrorists.
Believe me, seeing the people being brought in who were arrested, they don't remotely look like eco-terrorists. To be honest in appearance they basically look like rural rednecks.
Sorry! My bad.....
Living in Kalifornicate has conditioned me to suspect the enviro Nazis everytime something like this occurs..
Semper Fi
Yeah, I undersatnd that. They're all assasins...but for everyday run-of-the mill murderers?
FMCDH(BITS)
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