18-Year-Old Accused of Setting Mother's Home on Fire

Authorities say he set his mother's home on fire following an argument with family members

An 18-year-old man was arrested for allegedly setting his mother's home on fire following an argument with family members in Oxon Hill Friday morning, authorities said.

The Prince George's County Fire and EMS Department is not releasing the suspect's name, but he is facing multiple charges stemming from the incident.

Authorities said that after a dispute with family inside the home at at 5609 Woodland Drive in Oxon Hill, the suspect removed his grandfather from the home, went back inside and lit a fire on the first floor.

Police officers -- who had been sent to the address on a domestic call -- arrived to find the home in flames. They tried to put out the blaze with fire extinguishers from their cruisers while they waited for firefighters.

At one point, the suspect appeared on the roof and threw what authorities are calling "an unknown type of product" at the officers, causing them to retreat in fear it might be flammable.

As the flames and smoke became more intense, the suspect jumped off the roof and was taken into custody.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze in 15 to 20 minutes. Damage is estimated at $80,000, and the suspect's mother was displaced.

The suspect has been charged with first-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, first-degree destruction of property and 10 counts of first-degree assault on a police officer.

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