WASHINGTON — A Howard County 18-year-old is being charged with arson after police say he intentionally set a playground on fire, causing about $40,000 in damage.
Howard County police say 18-year-old David Joe McKinney of Jessup set fire to the Huntington Park playground located in the 9600 block of Clocktower Lane in Columbia. He was charged with two counts of malicious burning.
Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services responded to the playground at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Fire crews extinguished the flames and arson investigators examined the scene, later determining that the fire had been intentionally set.
A police detective at the scene noticed a person nearby who appeared to have a black, charred substance on his fingers. The detective approached the person — later identified as McKinney — and asked if he had information about the fire.
McKinney gave the detective conflicting and suspicious information. Detectives investigated and charged McKinney with the crime.
Police are investigating and working to determine if the playground fire could have any links to other local arson cases.
Below is a map with the location near the fire:
