A Maryland man was arrested after he allegedly set a Domino’s Pizza on fire after he was seen breaking into a vehicle at a nearby auto repair shop, authorities said.
According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, suspect George W. Cook, 59, was seen breaking into a vehicle at Superior Car Care on Manchester Street Saturday morning and then set fire to a vehicle behind a Domino’s Pizza store in Westminster, Maryland.
The Westminster Fire Department and surrounding departments responded around 6:30 a.m. Saturday to a report of a structure fire in the 400 block of Baltimore Boulevard.
Firefighters arrived on scene and found the blaze behind Domino’s Pizza. They had the blaze out within minutes and called for an investigation from the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
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George W. Cook, 59, is accused of setting a fire behind a Domino’s Pizza store. (Maryland State Fire Marshal)
As investigators were looking into the cause of the fire, a witness told investigators they saw Cook breaking into a vehicle at an auto repair shop.
Officers assisting investigators quickly responded to the scene and found Cook entering a vehicle. Officers detained Cook, who authorities say had previously been arrested by Westminster Police in the past few weeks for setting off small-scale arsons in the city.
Previous fires have started in a similar way to the Domino’s Pizza fire, involving bags or boxes filled with excrement and set on fire.
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The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office has been asked to investigate the Domino’s Pizza fire. (Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office)
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During the investigation, a Domino’s Pizza manager told a state deputy fire marshal that Cook came into the store earlier this week and became aggressive and kicked over a trash can after being asked to leave after employees refused to give him the free food he requested.
Cook was charged with second-degree arson, first- and second-degree malicious arson and malicious destruction of property over $1,000. He was also charged by the Westminster Police Department with trespassing and vagrancy and theft under $100.
He is being held in the Carroll County Detention Center without bail.
