A Hagerstown man has been taken into custody after allegations surfaced that he set his estranged partner's belongings on fire, causing a commotion that resulted in police and fire department response. According to FOX Baltimore, the suspect, Brian Allen Blank, age 41, is facing multiple charges, including first-degree arson and reckless endangerment.
Yesterday, the Hagerstown Fire Department and Police were called to a residence on the 1000 block of Corbett Street, where they discovered burned clothing in the yard. The situation was potentially hazardous, with the fire threatening to spread to the home. Fortunately, it was extinguished promptly. The home housed two minors at the time, as per WMAR2 News.
Investigators ascertained that Mr. Blank initiated the blaze intentionally by dousing clothes with gasoline and setting them alight, causing damage to the property's front porch and door, according to DC News Now. The incident escalated when Blank reportedly attempted to re-enter the house but was detained by law enforcement.
Authorities informed the estranged partner, who immediately took custody of the two children, aged 17 and 11, who were present in the home during the incident, and upon learning the origins of the clothing her ex-lover had set alight, it compounded an already tense and distressful situation for the mother.
Blank remains detained at the Washington County Detention Center and is being held without bond as the case awaits further legal proceedings.
