ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — A Howard County jury on Thursday convicted former Laurel Police chief David Crawford of a series of arsons dating back to 2011.
Prosecutors described Crawford, 71, as a serial arsonist who had a hit list of targets who wronged him in the past.
He retired from the Prince George's County Police Department as a major in 2000 and then served as Chief of Police in Laurel from 2006 until resigning in 2010.
Crawford is said to have set the home of his successor, Richard McLaughlin, on fire in 2019. Part of the incident was captured on video.
That was just one of a dozen fires that Crawford caused over a decade throughout six Maryland counties, including Anne Arundel, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's.
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Crawford's other victims included former Laurel City Administrator Marty Flemiona, two of his own relatives, two chiropractors, two old co-workers, and a neighbor.
In half of those cases the victims were reportedly in their homes-- asleep with their families, prompting prosecutors to file eight counts of attempted murder charges.
"Our heart goes out to the victims; and we hope this verdict and the sentence we are seeking will provide them with some sense of justice," said Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson. "Crawford, who had a long career in law enforcement, should have had a greater degree of respect for the rule of law and today’s verdict is a reminder that no one is above the law.”
Crawford has been in custody since March of 2021. The state is seeking the maximum punishment of eight life sentences plus 95 years behind bars.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 27.
