Officials reported the arrest of a Maryland man, George W. Cook, 59, for setting fire to a Domino’s store after he was seen breaking into a vehicle at a nearby auto repair shop.
A witness observed Cook breaking into vehicles at Superior Car Care on Manchester Ave. early Saturday morning. Shortly after, Cook ignited a fire at the rear of a Domino’s on Baltimore Blvd. in Westminster, Maryland.
The Westminster Fire Department, along with nearby departments, responded around 6:30 a.m. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze and alerted the Office of the State Fire Marshal to investigate.
During the investigation, the witness informed officials about seeing Cook at the auto repair shop. A trooper assisting the investigation found Cook inside another vehicle and detained him. Authorities discovered Cook had been previously arrested by Westminster Police for setting small fires in the city.
The method used in these earlier fires matched the Domino’s incident. Cook had placed feces in bags or boxes and then set them ablaze.
A Domino’s manager informed Deputy State Fire Marshals that Cook had visited the store earlier that week. He became aggressive and overturned a trash can when employees denied him free food.
Cook now faces charges including second-degree arson, first- and second-degree malicious burning, and malicious destruction of property exceeding $1,000. Additionally, Westminster Police charged him with rogue and vagabond and theft under $100. Cook is currently held without bond at Carroll County Detention Center.
According to officials, around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, the Westminster Fire Department and surrounding departments responded to the 400 block of Baltimore Boulevard for a reported building fire.
As they were investigating the fire, a witness told officials that he saw 59-year-old George W. Cook, breaking into vehicles at Superior Car Care on Manchester Avenue. The trooper detained Cook and learned that Westminster police had arrested him over the last few weeks for setting small fires within city limits.