Baltimore Man Charged in Arson That Shut Down Train Traffic

A Baltimore man has been arrested and charged in connection with a vehicle fire that disrupted train operations for several hours in December. According to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Darnell Anthony Brown, 53, is accused of intentionally setting his own vehicle ablaze. The arrest was made early this morning with the assistance of the Maryland State Police.

The incident occurred on December 19, 2025, when emergency services were dispatched to a vehicle fire located near the 1100 block of Joppa Road, adjacent to the CSX railroad tracks. Firefighters from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company arrived to find a 2010 Cadillac SRX fully engulfed in flames. The Office of the State Fire Marshal was subsequently called to the scene, and investigators determined that the fire had been deliberately set. For the safety of personnel and to prevent any potential hazards to rail traffic, operations on the CSX line were halted for several hours while the fire was extinguished and the investigation commenced.

During the initial stages of the investigation, Mr. Brown reportedly informed authorities that he had been abducted and that his vehicle had been stolen. However, evidence collected by Deputy State Fire Marshals reportedly contradicted these claims.

Brown was apprehended at his residence in Baltimore City and subsequently transported to the Harford County Detention Center. He faces multiple charges, including second-degree arson, malicious burning, first-degree malicious burning/fraud, obstructing railroad operations, making a false statement to an officer, and trespassing on posted property. He appeared before a District Court Commissioner and was released on a $20,000 bond.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is part of the Maryland Department of State Police and focuses on public safety through fire prevention education, inspections, investigations, and fire protection engineering.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal

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