George W. Cook, 59, is accused of setting fire to the back of a Domino's store in Westminster, Maryland, on Saturday morning after a witness noticed him breaking into vehicles at a nearby auto repair shop.
George W. Cook, a 59-year-old Maryland man, was apprehended for allegedly setting fire to a Domino's restaurant after engaging in a break-in at an adjacent auto repair shop.
According to officials, Cook set fire to the exterior of a Domino's store located on Baltimore Blvd. in Westminster, Maryland, on Saturday morning. The incident occurred while he was being observed breaking into vehicles at Superior Car Care on Manchester Ave.
Maryland Man Arrested for Setting Domino's on Fire After Breaking into Vehicles
At around 6:30 a.m., fire crews from the Westminster Fire Department and neighboring areas responded to the reported building fire. Upon arrival, they discovered a blaze at the rear of the Domino's establishment and promptly contained it within minutes. The Office of the State Fire Marshal was subsequently requested to investigate the incident.
During the investigation into the fire's origin, a witness who had observed Cook breaking into vehicles at the auto repair shop came forward to share their observations. A trooper assisting with the investigation was dispatched immediately and apprehended Cook while he was in the process of entering a vehicle.
Maryland Man Arrested for Setting Domino's on Fire After Breaking into Vehicles
Authorities discovered that Cook had been arrested by Westminster Police on multiple occasions in recent weeks for setting minor fires within the city limits. These previous incidents exhibited similarities to the ignition of the Domino's fire, involving the placement of feces within bags or boxes and subsequent setting ablaze.
A Domino's manager informed Deputy State Fire Marshals that Cook had entered the store earlier in the week exhibiting a belligerent attitude and overturning a trash can after being denied a request for free food and ordered to leave.
Maryland Man Arrested for Setting Domino's on Fire After Breaking into Vehicles
Cook has been charged with second-degree arson, first- and second-degree malicious burning, and malicious destruction of property exceeding $1,000. Additional charges of rogue and vagabond, as well as theft under $100, have been filed by the Westminster Police Department.
Cook is currently being detained at Carroll County Detention Center without bail. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
