Apartment Blaze in Rosedale Ruled Arson, Police Say

ROSEDALE, MD – Police allege that a tenant set fire to a Rosedale apartment complex over the weekend after a dispute with the leasing agent over a stove.

The two-alarm fire displaced the residents and sent one person to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, according to police.

Romaine Wilson, 59, of the 2000 block of Kelbourne Road, will be served with a warrant charging her with first-degree arson, attempted first-degree murder and other charges—see the complete list at the end of the article.

Police said Wilson was hospitalized after the fire and had not yet been served the warrant Monday afternoon.

She was not the person hospitalized for smoke inhalation, Cpl. John Wachter told Patch; he said he could not provide more information about why Wilson was at the hospital.

According to authorities, Wilson had an ongoing dispute with management at Park East Apartments, and she went to the office around 12:15 p.m. on Saturday to request that her apartment's stove be replaced with the stove in the model apartment.

Upon being told this was impossible, Wilson left, then returned, at which point the leasing agent inside the office locked the door.

Police said Wilson put a flammable liquid outside the leasing office door and set it on fire.

A total of 27 pieces of firefighting equipment showed up to battle the blaze.

Six people required medical evaluations as a result of the fire, which began after 12:15 p.m. and was brought under control by 12:57 p.m. on Saturday, officials reported.

Wilson was taken into custody when authorities arrived.

The Red Cross was assisting the residents, all of whom were displaced by the fire.

Related: 2-Alarm Fire at Rosedale Apartment Deemed Suspicious

The arrest warrant for Wilson includes the following charges:

• Five counts of attempted first-degree murder
• Five counts of attempted second-degree murder
• First-degree arson
• Five counts of first-degree assault
• Five counts of second-degree assault
• Five counts of reckless endangerment
• Malicious destruction of property greater than $1,000

Photo Credit: Morguefile.