By Skyler Spinelli
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
A former Laurel police chief was arrested Wednesday in connection with a string of arson cases across the state that date back to 2011, Howard County officials said.
David Crawford, 69, of 9126 Dunloggin Road in Ellicott City was charged with multiple counts of attempted first- and second-degree murder as well as first-degree arson and malicious burning, according to charging documents filed with Howard County District Court.
Police say Crawford participated in 12 arsons spanning Howard, Frederick, Charles, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties between 2011 and 2020. Surveillance footage indicates that Crawford often carried out the same method for the arsons – gallons of gasoline and a stick encased in cloth, police said.
Multiple forms of evidence were discovered in the Crawford’s home, including a hit list, which included names of individuals who had their homes burned down as a result of the suspect’s actions, county officials said.
Some of the victims were a former Laurel official, three former law enforcement officials, including a former Laurel police chief, two relatives, two former doctors who had treated Crawford, and an individual residing in the same neighborhood as himself, according to a Howard County press release.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the multiple jurisdictions and departments who worked together to arrest the suspect and potentially stop any future tragedies,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said during a press conference yesterday. “Not only were these homes, and residents’ lives put in danger – but the lives of our first responders, firefighters, and police officers around the state were endangered.”
Crawford had previously served as police chief in Laurel from 2006 until 2010. He also had been employed as chief of the District Heights Police Department and a major for the Prince George’s Police Department.
“I am thankful for the joint efforts of all our partners across the region in their efforts to take this criminal off the street,” said Howard County Fire Chief William Anuszewski. “The sheer nature in which these acts are reported combined with the previous position of such high public trust that was held by the individual is disturbing.”
The suspect is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center.