CUMBERLAND, MD – A homeless man has been arrested and charged for a dumpster fire behind the White Oaks Shopping Plaza in Cumberland. He was identified by police by his flip-flops.
According to police, James Robert Michael Langway, 34, was arrested after a Cumberland Police Department officer assisting investigators noticed Langway’s footwear while reviewing video surveillance of the dumpster fire Tuesday afternoon.
“The keen-eyed police officer remembered Langway and his distinctive slides after making contact with him a few days earlier,” police said.
On July 11, at around 11:15 p.m., the Cumberland Fire Department responded to the rear of White Oaks Shopping Plaza and discovered a dumpster on fire behind Aaron’s and rapidly spreading to the building.
“Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire but not before causing $1,200 in damages. The following morning, Deputy State Fire Marshals and Cumberland Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the cause of the fire. They obtained video of Langway damaging property to the front of several businesses before he lit cardboard boxes and eventually the dumpster on fire,” police reported.
Langway was charged with second-degree arson, two counts of second-degree malicious burning, and two counts of malicious destruction of property. Cumberland Police Department will file the charges related to the property damage. Langway is currently being held at Allegany County Detention Center, awaiting bond review.