PG Man Charged in Harford County Hotel Arson

The suspect in a November arson at the Aberdeen Hilton was arrested Friday as the result of a traffic stop, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Gerald A. Rogers, 31, of the 13400 block of William Beanes Road in Upper Marlboro, has been charged with multiple offenses, including first-degree arson, the fire marshal reported.

Investigators determined that a Nov. 9 fire in the laundry room of a Harford County Hilton was incendiary in nature, and detectives obtained a warrant to arrest Rogers, the fire marshal said in a statement.

"Rogers was a disgruntled employee at the Hilton when the fire occurred," according to the fire marshal.
 
The warrant was issued on March 13, according to online court records.

At 1 a.m. on Friday, Maryland State Police stopped Rogers for a traffic violation and he was taken into custody, the fire marshal said. He is being held at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center with bail set at $60,000, the report said.

The fire in Aberdeen occurred at 10:54 p.m. on Nov. 9, when the hotel was occupied, the fire marshal said. The fire alarm went off and several departments responded to the blaze, which caused minor damage, according to the report.

In connection with the fire, Rogers has been charged with first-degree arson, second-degree malicious burning, reckless endangerment and malicious destruction of property worth $1,000, according to court records.

Related: Arson at Aberdeen Hilton Under Investigation