Evicted Homeowner Charged with Setting House on Fire

A Glenn Dale man has been charged with several counts of arson and malicious burning after he is believed to have set multiple fires in a house that he was evicted from, according to Prince George’s County Fire department spokesman Mark E. Brady.

Prince George’s County firefighters were called to a house fire Thursday morning in the 11500 block of Prospect Place in Glenn Dale. At the time, sheriff’s deputies were on the scene trying to serve a court-ordered eviction to a resident.

The suspect barricaded himself in the house and at least one shot was fired. 

Firefighters arrived to find the two-story single-family house on fire with flames showing from the second floor. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished without problems.

Medics treated the suspect for minor injuries and he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Fire investigators from the Prince George’s County Office of the Fire Marshal and the sheriff’ office conducted a joint investigation. Investigators determined that the suspect set multiple fires in the residence using an accelerant. The fire caused an estimated $80,000 damage.

David Clarence Coley, 53, of Glenn Dale, has been charged with:

• First-degree arson, the maximum penalty if found guilty is 30 years in jail.
• Second-degree arson, the maximum penalty is 20 years in jail.
• First-degree malicious burning, the maximum penalty is 5 years in jail.
• Second-degree malicious burning, the maximum penalty is 18 month in jail.

Cooley is being held on a $100,000 bond.