Hagerstown Man Charged With Arson

David Wilhem

He set a trailer on fire and barricaded himself in another home.

Hagerstown, Md. (KM) – A Hagerstown man is charged with 1st-degree arson, 1st-degree malicious burning, arson threat and reckless endangerment following an incident Tuesday afternoon at a house trailerĀ  on Cool Hollow Road in Washington County.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office says David Wilhem, 39, was working on a  trailer when he became agitated with that property owner. Wilhem went inside of his trailer and set a mattress on fire.

The property owner called 911, and Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies and State Police responded. Wilhem went into the trailer he was working on and threatened to burn it down and pour gasoline inside a third-floor bedroom. In order to deescalate the situation, police left the house and Wilhem barricaded himself inside.

After several hours, Wilhem agreed to surrender. He was taken into custody by Deputy State Fire Marshals. He told investigators he was having a bad day.

By Kevin McManus