Arson Arrest in 3 Gaithersburg Fires; Links to Area Fires Explored

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Fires in three Gaithersburg apartment buildings were deliberately set, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, and a man is in custody on arson charges.

Meanwhile, fire investigators are exploring any connection to multiple similar fires near Monday's Walker House Road fires in recent months, as well as in the greater Silver Spring area.

Montgomery County Fire investigators have charged Theophilus Robinson, 21, of Hyattsville, with three counts of arson in the first-degree and three counts of reckless endangerment.

Firefighters were called to a fire in a trash room Monday morning at 9910 Walker House Road in Gaithersburg. The fire had already been extinguished by a resident in the apartment building by the time firefighters arrived.

An eyewitness told authorities a man left the trash room around the time the fire was discovered.

Montgomery County Police issued a lookout alert, and located a suspect -- later identified as Robinson -- matching the witness description at the Gaithersburg Public Library.

While responders were still on the scene of the trash room fire, residents of apartment buildings at 9904 and 9902 Walker House Road reported small fires had occurred in the trash rooms of those buildings, as well. Fire investigators confirmed the fires had been intentionally set in all three buildings.

Robinson is being held at the Central Processing Unit on Seven Locks Road in Rockville.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding Robinson, or any suspicious fires in the area, is asked to contact the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Arson Tip Line at 240.777.2263.

»Photo of fire suspect Theophilus Robinson, courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services