More Arrests in Maryland Housing Arson

Three more people, including at least one volunteer firefighter, were arrested Saturday in connection with the largest residential arson in Maryland history, a collection of blazes that caused $10 million in damage to houses in an upscale development.

Authorities would not immediately discuss a possible motive in the Dec. 6 fires at the Hunters Brooke development, where many homes were still under construction.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Baltimore identified the men as Patrick Stephen Walsh, 20, of Fort Washington; Jeremy Daniel Parady, 20, of Accokeek; and Michael McIntosh Everhart, 20, of Waldorf. Authorities said the men had been charged with arson and were scheduled to appear in federal court Monday.

Charges were filed earlier against Aaron Speed, 21, a security guard who told authorities he was upset by the way he had been treated by his employer.

The fires destroyed 10 houses and damaged 16 others. They broke out almost simultaneously over a 10-acre site, leading police to believe that more than one person was involved.

One of the suspects arrested Saturday, Parady, was listed on the website for the Accokeek Volunteer Fire Department as a “riding member.”

Wayne Jordan, president of the fire department, acknowledged that one of his members was arrested, but would not confirm it was Parady.

Jordan said the arrested firefighter was a probationary member of the department and had been suspended.

Speed, who worked at the development for Security Services of America, has told investigators he was upset his employer did not show enough sympathy after his infant son died this year, according to court documents.

Speed came under suspicion after allegedly failing a polygraph and telling investigators he was home when a colleague phoned to tell him of the fires. Phone records showed the call went through a cellphone tower closer to the scene, according to court documents.

Initially, there had been speculation the fires were set by environmental extremists because some environmental groups had complained the houses threatened a bog. But no evidence has been found to support that theory, police said.