Investigators link 67-year-old to multiple intentionally set fires at Cecil County farm

WARWICK, Md. (WBFF) — A Warwick man was arrested early Friday morning in connection with a series of intentionally set fires at a Warwick farm, officials said.

Shortly after 4 a.m. on April 10, Cecilton Volunteer Fire Company and surrounding fire departments were called to the 1100 block of Middleneck Road for a reported shed fire.

There, crews found a shed fully involved with fire extending into additional sheds, a chicken coop and a pickup truck, authorities said.

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Firefighters contained the fire and prevented it from spreading to the home and a nearby garage.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal was requested to investigate, officials said.

Through an investigation, 67-year-old Wallace Pleasanton, who lives at the property with his 96-year-old mother, was identified as the person responsible for sparking the fire.

Investigators determined the blaze started in a shed and was intentionally set, according to fire officials. Investigators also found evidence of several prior fires that had been set and either extinguished or allowed to burn out.

Pleasanton was arrested with the assistance of the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office. He faces several charges, including second-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning and malicious destruction of property over $1,000.

This fire follows a separate case from January where the suspect was charged after investigators determined he had intentionally set fire to his mother’s John Deere utility vehicle inside a garage at the same address, officials said.

“We recognize the impact incidents like this have on families, especially when they occur at a home,” Acting State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray said via press release.

We hope today’s arrest brings some sense of relief and allows the family, particularly his mother, to begin to feel at peace.”

Pleasanton is being held at the Cecil County Detention Center without bond. He has a bond review hearing set for Monday at 10:45 a.m., according to online court records.