CECIL COUNTY, MD (UPDATE) – With the help of the Maryland State Police S.T.A.T.E. Team, a North East man faces serious charges after setting fire to his neighbor’s house early Tuesday morning while they were inside.
Joshua Edward Alexander Larkins, 27, was apprehended for crimes including attempted first-degree murder and first-degree arson.
On the evening of April 16, firefighters responded to a blaze at 27 Bay View Woods Lane, North East.
The state Fire Marshal’s conclusive investigations determined that the fire was deliberately set. Reports indicated that Larkins, residing at 8 Bay View Woods Lane, visited the property earlier and, after leaving, engaged in aggressive communications with the owner.
Following a thorough investigation, fire marshals secured footage showing Larkins igniting multiple fires at the neighbor’s home and fleeing the scene as the fires intensified, while the house was occupied by four individuals.
Larkins faces various charges, including first-degree attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and multiple degrees of arson and malicious burning offenses.
Maryland State Police’s S.T.A.T.E. Team aided in Larkins’ arrest, ensuring he is currently detained at Cecil County Detention Center without bond. The specialized unit deals with high-risk situations such as apprehensions, searches, barricade incidents, and protection of dignitaries, maintaining public safety and responding swiftly to such criminal incidents.