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A Charles County man has been arrested and charged with arson following an investigation into a motorcycle fire that occurred Tuesday afternoon in Marbury, Maryland. Deputy State Fire Marshals determined that the vehicle fire, reported on the afternoon of April 6, 2026, was intentionally set.
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According to information released by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, authorities responded to the 4000 block of Chicamuxen Road around 5:00 p.m. after receiving a report of a motorcycle fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found a 2015 Harley-Davidson FXSTI in a roadside ditch. The fire had already been extinguished by the time authorities reached the scene.
An investigation conducted by Deputy State Fire Marshals in collaboration with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the fire originated near the motorcycle’s gas tank. Investigators recovered a partially burned article of clothing from the tank area, which is believed to have been used as an ignition source to start the blaze.
During the course of the investigation, Joseph Gear, a 53-year-old individual, was identified as a suspect. He was located in the vicinity of the incident and subsequently arrested. Gear was transported to the Charles County Detention Center and has been charged with second-degree arson. He is currently being held without bond.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is part of the Maryland Department of State Police and focuses on protecting citizens from fire and explosion hazards through education, inspection, investigation, and fire protection engineering. Residents seeking more information on fire safety can contact 1-800-525-3124 or visit the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s website. A separate arson hotline is also available at 1-800-492-7529 for reporting suspicious fire activity.
Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Office of the State Fire Marshal
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