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.
Former Laurel Police Chief indicted after allegedly setting stepson s property on fire 3 times
By FOX 5 DC Digital Team
Published
PRINCE GEORGE S COUNTY, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - Former Laurel Police Chief David Crawford has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of arson and reckless endangerment after being linked to at least 12 fires across Maryland, including three at his stepson s home.
Victim of alleged arson by former Laurel police chief talks to FOX 5
One of former Laurel police chief Dave Crawford s alleged arson victims, Richard McLaughlin - who is himself a former Laurel police chief - talks to FOX 5 s Bob Barnard.
The former police chief of Laurel has been indicted on multiple arson charges in Montgomery County, Maryland.
David Crawford, 69, of Ellicot City, is accused of setting fire to his stepson’s home more than once.
The first incident was in September of 2016 then again in September of 2017, according to court documents. Crawford again reportedly targeted his stepson’s property in 2020, the latest in the string of arson fires connected to him, authorities said.
In all, there are four charges of arson and two charges of reckless endangerment in the grand jury indictment for the fire on Majestic Elm Court in Clarksburg.
They have been working with the county since the 1990s but are expanding their efforts.
“That includes increasing mobile service capacity,” Director James Drake said. “That includes putting counselors in police vehicles and having officers that are specially trained.”
“We are going to try to meet as many of their needs as we can,” Drake said. “We’re going to create a plan on what we’re going to do in the next days, in the next week, the next month, and then we’re going to follow up and check on them.”
“Then in 3, 6 months down the line when the crisis is resolved, we’re going to check on them one more time to try to ensure and make sure they’re staying in a place that’s positive and a place that’s safe for them and the community,” he said.
Reward:
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Lamar Jamal Perkins.
Remarks:
Caution:
Lamar Jamal Perkins is wanted for his alleged involvement in the conspiracy to kidnap at gunpoint an individual he and others had met at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in National Harbor, Maryland, on February 3, 2021. It is alleged that the victim was kidnapped at gunpoint, driven to Washington, D.C., beaten, and threatened in order to obtain information regarding the code to the safe in his hotel room. During the abduction, the suspects allegedly stole property from the victim, including his hotel key, watch, wallet, identification, and phone. In addition, the suspects allegedly took cash, poker chips, drugs, an Xbox, a backpack, and a suitcase from the victim’s hotel room. The kidnappers also allegedly pointed a gun at the victim, placed a gun in the victim’s mouth, hit the victim in the face and head with a gun, and thr