CALVERT COUNTY, Md. (Feb. 01, 2010) - State Fire Marshals arrested a North Beach man Monday afternoon after investigation determined he was responsible for burning a shed on the evening of January 27. Herbert Thomas Chase III, 39, of no fixed address, was taken into custody at about 3 p.m. by fire marshals and Calvert County deputies at a gasoline station at the corner of 2nd Street and Chesapeake Avenue in North Beach where Chase agreed to meet investigators who had a warrant for his arrest.
The shed, located at 3837 Oak Street in North Beach, suffered $500 in damage.
Chase was identified as the arsonist after investigators placed him at the scene and found contradictions in his explanation. The reason for the fire is still not clear.
Chase is charged with 2nd Degree Arson, Malicious Burning and Malicious Destruction of Property. If found guilty of all charges, Chase could be imprisoned for not more than twenty-one years, eight months, required to pay fines not to exceed twenty-one thousand dollars or both.
Chase is being held at the Calvert County Detention Center.
Calvert County Sheriffs placed additional, charges against him.
Source: Maryland State Fire Marshal