May 1, 2021
On Tuesday, April 27, 2021, five former volunteer firefighters of the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department were indicted by a grand jury on various arson, conspiracy, and/or misconduct in office charges for allegedly participating with four intentionally-set fires of vacant structures in Prince George’s County in late 2019 and early 2020.
The indictments are the result of an in-depth investigation by the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Fire Investigations Division and the Prince George’s County Arson Task Force. The Arson Task Force is comprised of Detectives from the Prince George’s County Police Department and Fire Investigators from the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department.
The fires were set at times when they were on duty and could respond to them, WJLA-TV quoted State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy as saying. Property damages from all four blazes were estimated at $260,000 in total.
The suspects were removed from their roles when the investigation began, news outlets reported. Three civilians were also charged with arson and other crimes during the course of the investigation, authorities said.
Hawkins was being held Friday at the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections in Upper Marlboro on a $50,000 bond. The initial appearances for Holzberger, Smith, St. John and Vazquez were scheduled for mid-May, according to the statement.
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Top L- Cole Vazquez, Top M - George Smith, Top R - Jay St. John, Bottom L - Jeremy Hawkins, Bottom R - Nicholas Holzberger Credit: Prince George’s County Fire Department
Five former Prince George’s County volunteer firefighters of the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department have been charged with various counts of arson and misconduct following four fires being set to vacant structures in late 2019 to early 2020.
Nineteen-year-old Nicholas Holzberger, 21-year-old Cole Vazquez, 24-year-old George Smith, 24-year-old Jay St. John, and 26-year-old Jeremy Hawkins have all been indicted on either first or second-degree arson charges, as well as multiple misconduct charges.
5 former Prince Georgeâs County volunteer firefighters indicted in multiple arsons
By FOX 5 Digital Team
PublishedÂ
5 volunteer firefighters charged with arson
Officials say five former volunteer firefighters have been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly intentionally setting fire to multiple vacant structures in Prince George s County.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - Officials say five former volunteer firefighters have been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly intentionally setting fire to multiple vacant structures in Prince George s County.
At a press conference Friday Prince George s County State s Attorney Aisha Braveboy announced the indictments against 26-year-old Jeremy Hawkins, 19-year-old Nicholas Holzberger, 24-year-old George Smith, 24-year-old Jay St. John and 21-year-old Cole Vazquez who are all former members of the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department.
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