VIDEO: A man placed incendiary devices outside a Maryland fire station several times recently, Prince Georgeโs County police said. The suspect hit Station 805 in Capitol Heights three times in the past few months, police said. He walks up to the station and places what authorities call improvised incendiary devices similar to Molotov cocktails, investigators said. One was put in the mailbox.
On Aug. 13, he struck at 8 a.m. โPrince Georgeโs County fire departmentโs bomb squad responded, rendered the devices safe and recovered them for evidence,โ said Caroll Spriggs of Prince Georgeโs County Fire and EMS. Authorities said they’re worried someone could get hurt. โGod forbid one of our young people get ahold of one of these devices and become harmed,โ Prince Georgeโs County Bureau of Homeland Security Deputy Chief James McCreary said.
Police released photos of the suspect from a Metro station. His distinctive Members Only jacket is adorned with Tom and Jerry cartoon characters. โWe are now asking for the media and the public to assist us in identifying the individual seen on camera placing the incendiary devices,โ Spriggs said.
Investigators didn’t want to say much about how the devices were made, but said they’ve gotten more dangerous. โThe initial devices were inert, but, again, they seem to be progressing,โ McCreary said. โThe last device we had at this location could have been something, potentially, that would have harmed someone if it was able to be activated.โ
The fire station continues to operate 24 hours a day. Safety precautions have been taken to keep first responders safe, officials said. โThe women and men who work in this station have continued to show up each and every day.โ Spriggs said. โThey continue to provide a service to this community and they will continue to do so.โ
Police believe the station is being targeted but don’t know why. โThe way I see it, he was trying to intimidate the people who work here, and thatโs why we think itโs a grave threat,โ said Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ATF is assisting with the investigation. A reward of $7,500 is offered for information leading to an arrest and prosecution.
