Former Laurel police chief who set revenge fires found guilty on all counts

BALTIMORE -- A jury on Thursday found Former Laurel Police chief David Crawford guilty on all 12 felony charges in connection with a series of 12 fires in six counties in Maryland over the course of a decade. 

Crawford, 71, was arrested in March 2021 on a number of arson and attempted murder charges. He was found guilty of eight counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of arson and a count of malicious burning. 

The State's Attorney's Office said it will be seeking the maximum sentence allowed which is eight life sentences plus 95 years. Crawford's sentencing is scheduled for June.

"This person have been a guardian and a protector, but instead he was a menace," said Howard County State's Attorney Rich Howard.

Prosecutors called it a "very strong circumstantial case" in which detectives used cellphone data, relationships, computer searches and a target list on Crawford's phone.

"That (target) list was instrumental and I think we all know that," said Howard County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hammond.

Prosecutors said Crawford was motivated by the slightest of grudges, using gasoline to burn people's cars, garages, and homes.

"I think Mr. Crawford felt above the law," Crawford said. "He obviously felt like he could do this and get away with it, and, for 10 years, he did."

Officials say the case started with a fire in Prince George's County in 2011. Crawford was also linked with a series of fires in Howard County between 2017-18. They were all deemed "incendiary" in nature, meaning there were no accidental sources found in the area of the fire.

Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that the structures and vehicles that Crawford intentionally set on fire were connected to victims with whom he or his wife, Mary, had previous disagreements.

All of the fires were set outside of the homes sometime around 3 a.m. when occupants would be sleeping inside.

The victims include a former City of Laurel official, three former law enforcement officials, two relatives, two of Crawford's former physicians and a resident in his neighborhood. One of the victims was his stepson.

Crawford is a former local law enforcement official who last served in 2010 when he resigned as Chief of the City of Laurel Police Department. He also served as police chief for District Heights, and previously worked for the Prince George's County Police Department as a major in 2000.

Police also discovered a coded "target list" on Crawford's phone, according to charging documents.

"This was a very challenging case that spanned nearly 10 years and involved a dozen fires in multiple jurisdictions, said Gibson. "We are incredibly grateful to the prosecutors who expertly tried this case and to the jury who carefully reviewed the evidence and the law enforcement officials and fire agencies that helped provide the crucial evidence needed to reach today's result. Our heart goes out to the victims; and we hope this verdict and the sentence we are seeking will provide them with some sense of justice. Furthermore, Crawford, who had a long career in law enforcement, should have had a greater degree of respect for the rule of law and today's verdict is a reminder that no one is above the law."  

Crawford's attorney calls it a sad end to his decades-long career in law enforcement.

"He's obviously very disappointed," defense attorney Robert Bonsib said. "It's a very tough day for him and we'll be discussing next steps over the course of the next few weeks and a couple months."

Here's a chronological list of the Howard County fires: 

March 5, 2017 – 2900 block of Country Lane, Ellicott City, MD At approximately 3:05am, fire and police responded to a report of a vehicle fire. Fire was contained to the vehicle itself. Vehicle was unoccupied. 

June 23, 2017 – 6000 block of Avalon Drive, Elkridge, MD At approximately 4:19am, units responded for a reported house fire. On scene, units located a single-family dwelling with a fire located in the attached garage. The family, three adults and two juveniles, were inside the home sleeping at the time of the fire and escaped. Fire was determined to be arson. 

December 9, 2017 – 4000 block of Spring Meadow Drive, Ellicott City, MD At approximately 3:17 am, units responded for a reported house fire. Once on scene, crews found a single-family home with fire showing. The family, two adults and one juvenile, were home at the time of the fire and escaped. Fire was determined to be arson. 

September 22, 2018 – 4000 block of Spring Meadow Drive, Ellicott City, MD (same address as previous two fires on the same block) At approximately 3:45am, units responded for a reported house fire. The home was unoccupied as renovations had just been completed from the previous fire. Investigators determined the fire originated along the front of the house to include the garage and spread to most of the rest of the house. 

"We are grateful that this defendant, a former law enforcement officer, will no longer be putting the community at risk."