Maryland man charged with multiple arsons after bizarre encounter at fire scene
Mechanicsville, MD – A St. Mary’s County man is behind bars after being charged with setting multiple fires Tuesday night along Three Notch Road—and drawing attention to himself by showing up at one of the scenes claiming to be a victim.
Jeffrey Allen Wathen, 41, of Mechanicsville, was arrested and charged with five felony counts after investigators, with the help of accelerant detection K9 “Taylor,” linked him to a string of suspicious fires reported shortly after 9:00 p.m. in the 26400 block of Three Notch Road.
Crews from the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department responded to several small fires, including a burning flower bed, shed, deck, and an exterior area behind a nearby residence. In each case, flames were extinguished quickly by firefighters or nearby occupants, preventing further damage.
While fire marshals were investigating, Wathen approached the scene yelling that a fire had broken out in his own yard. His behavior drew the attention of deputies, and further investigation revealed surveillance footage from a nearby property allegedly showing Wathen running from one of the fires just as it ignited.
Investigators recovered additional evidence linking Wathen to the arsons and, with assistance from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, arrested him at the scene. He was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center.
Wathen faces multiple charges, including first-degree arson, two counts of second-degree arson, and two counts of first-degree malicious burning.
No injuries were reported in the fires, and authorities credit the fast response from firefighters and coordinated efforts among agencies with preventing more serious damage.
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Key Points
- Jeffrey Wathen, 41, was arrested Tuesday for setting multiple fires in Mechanicsville
- He approached investigators at one scene claiming to be a fire victim, prompting further scrutiny
- Surveillance footage and other evidence led to charges including first-degree arson