After a spate of fires in Southwestern Baltimore, police have arrested and charged two men in connection to at least two arsons.
Since Dec. 2, the city has seen 17 fires, according to the Baltimore Police Department, and five of those have been ruled arson. The fires occurred in vacant homes, and nobody was hurt. Of those, 11 fires occurred in the Carrollton Ridge neighborhood.
Shawn Krainer, 41, was arrested and charged with second-degree arson and fourth-degree burglary on Sunday—days after fires in vacant homes on the 2400 block of Christian St., 500 block of S. Bentalou St., 200 block of Furrow St., and 300 block of Furrow St., according to court documents and police. Though those four fires have been declared arsons, Krainer was only charged in connection to the blaze at the 2400 block of Christian St. He is set to appear in Baltimore District Court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 19.
Under Maryland law, arson can carry a 20-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $30,000.
But Krainer is just the latest arrest. Police also arrested 37-year-old William Ritchie on Dec. 2 in connection to a fire on the 1900 block of Ramsay St. He has been charged with second-degree arson and making a false statement to police, according to court documents. His preliminary hearing in Baltimore’s District Court is scheduled for Jan. 2.
In a statement, Baltimore City Council president Brandon Scott called the fires an “extremely concerning situation,” and promised a public hearing on Tuesday Dec. 17 to inform citizens about the fires and city agencies’ response to them.
“The Public Safety Committee will conduct a thorough review of the situation, seeking reassurances that the Fire Department’s handling of this public safety emergency is adequate and that the affected communities have the resources they need,” Public Safety Chair Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer added in Scott’s statement.
Police did not have further updates on the fires or arrests when contacted Monday, including the motives behind the fires
*Ramsay St.
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