Kid Busted for Torching Liquor Store;
 Another Teen Charged with Setting Fire to Giant

PRINCE FREDERICK  ---  Teens have been arrested in two recent fires while firefighters went out on Monday, Jan. 2^nd for what has all the earmarks of yet another teenager-set fire to a modular office in Calvert County.

According to Deputy Fire Marshal W. Faron Taylor, a 17-year-old youth has been charged in connection with an arson that damaged a local business at 100 Smallwood Village Center in Waldorf.  The 1:00 a.m. blaze on December 29, 2005 caused an estimated $10,000 damage to “The Liquor Store” located within the shopping center.

          With the assistance of the private security company for the premises and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office,  Deputy State Fire Marshals were able to determine the youth ignited discarded cardboard boxes stacked against the front wall of the store.  The fire was discovered by a passerby and thirty firefighters from Waldorf, LaPlata, Bryans Road, and Clinton quickly responded and were able to keep the blaze from spreading into the building.

          The youth was apprehended early Saturday, December 31, 2005 and released to the custody of parents.  The referral will be adjudicated by the Department of Juvenile Services. 

In the Giant fire from last month, Deputy State Fire Marshals have charged a 16-year-old youth with first and second degree arson in connection with a blaze on December 11th at the Giant grocery store located in the 600 block of North Solomons Island Road.  The 3:13 p.m. blaze caused an estimated $70,000 damage to the popular store.

          An extensive investigation determined the youth, a part-time employee of the store, ignited discarded plastic shopping bags inside a 53’ box trailer that was parked in the receiving area at the back of the store.  The smoky blaze inside the trailer was kept from spreading fully into the building when an automatic fire sprinkler system activated.  Fifty firefighters from area fire departments responded to ensure the blaze was extinguished and assisted in smoke removal from the premises.

          The youth was apprehended at his home earlier today without incident and was released to the custody of parents pending further action by the Department of Juvenile Services.