HAMPSTEAD, MD – A man accused of setting four fires in less than eight hours in Hampstead Thursday night has been arrested and charged. Wesley C. England, 33, was located by Hampstead Police Department, Maryland just minutes after he was found walking from the last of the fires he is accused of setting.
Police reported that at around 4:30 p.m., Deputy State Fire Marshals assisted Hampstead Police Department after a passerby observed a fire at the rear of the Wendy’s located in the 4200 block of North Woods Trail. At nearly the same time, two other fires were discovered.
Soon after, more fires were reported.
“An off-duty Baltimore County police officer reported a trash can was on fire in front of the H&R Block in the Robert’s Field Shopping Center, as well as grass and pine needles in the area of Crystal Court,” the State Fire Marshals service said. “Police officers canvassed the neighborhood, and residents described a person they believed was a female walking away from the area of the fires. At the same time, investigators continued their investigation into the evening hours.”
Later in the night, after 11:30 p.m., Hampstead Volunteer Fire Company responded to a camper trailer reported to be on fire in the 4600 block of Upper Beckleysville Road.
“It also was reported that a person went inside the home on the property without permission. Hampstead Police Department responded and observed England, who matched the earlier description in the area of Indian Court. When officers told England he was seen at the earlier fires, England admitted he had set all four fires. Investigators later concluded that the camper trailer was a total loss,” police said.
England was taken into custody and charged with arson, second-degree, first and second-degree malicious burning, malicious destruction of property over $1,000, malicious destruction of property under $1,000, arson of trash container, and fourth-degree burglary.