KENT COUNTY, MD – A Chestertown man has been arrested and charged for his involvement in a fire that severely damaged a commercial building last year. The Office of the State Fire Marshal announced the charges against 32-year-old Julian Cookerly following an extensive investigation into the September 27, 2023, blaze at 103 Church Alley in Chestertown.
The incident took place in a building that housed both a business at the front and an apartment at the rear, occupied by Cookerly. Fire investigators identified multiple origins of the fire within the apartment and concluded that Cookerly was responsible for setting the fire. Initially,
Cookerly was transported to the hospital for evaluation following the incident. The fire resulted in approximately $25,000 in damages, affecting the apartment and causing minor damage to the adjacent business premises. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, despite the businesses being occupied at the time of the fire.
Cookerly faces multiple charges, including First-Degree Arson, Second-Degree Arson, Second-Degree Malicious Burning, and Malicious Destruction of Property. He was apprehended today and is currently held at the Kent County Detention Center, awaiting a bail review.