Fire Investigators Search for Imposter

Prince George’s County Fire Investigators are looking into an incident that occurred at a local elementary school.  At about 10:30 AM, Monday, March 29, 2004, an individual entered Magnolia Elementary School at 8400 Nightingale Drive in Lanham, Maryland.  The person identified himself to school officials as a Prince George’s County Fire Investigator and produced a fire department photo ID card.  The individual refused to allow school officials to examine the ID card and he was not able to produce any additional identifying items.  The person asked for various records including a roster of employees, a school evacuation plan and a yearbook.  School officials quickly became suspicious at which point the person left the school.  The individual is described as an African-American male, 6’2” to 6’3”, wearing a tan baseball cap, khaki shirt over a red, white and blue shirt, blue jeans and black army boots.  He was last seen leaving school grounds driving a white Volvo.  School Security and Prince George’s County Fire Investigators were immediately notified.  Witnesses described the male as being very similar to that of the person depicted in the artist sketch of the serial arsonist.  The Arson Task Force is also involved in the search for this individual.

All Fire Investigators and Inspectors as well as firefighters and paramedics are issued photo ID cards and badges were appropriate.  Fire Department personnel will allow their identification credentials to be reviewed to confirm their identity.  If for any reason you are suspicious about the person presenting these credentials or the person does not resemble the picture on the ID card; you should call 911 immediately.  Additionally, names and ID numbers of fire department personnel can be verified by contacting the Fire Department’s Operations Center at 301-583-2200.

Any person with information about the suspect in this case or the serial arsonist should contact the Arson Task Force at 301-77-ARSON.