Teen Charged in Setting Fire to Huntington Park Playground

Howard County police have charged a 15-year-old male from Laurel in setting fire to a playground in Columbia last month, which caused $40,000 in damage.

The teen was charged with first- and second-degree malicious burning, and first- and second-degree malicious destruction of property.

Witnesses told investigators they saw a group of young men in the area set a backpack on fire, which they placed on playground equipment.

The fire occurred June 17 at about 1:10 p.m. at the 9600 block of Clocktower Lane, which is the Howard Recreation & Parks property, Huntington Park.

Police said they credited the Spring Breeze Community Association in helping with the case, which offered a reward for information leading to conviction.

A tipster called the association to offer information, and with the tip, detectives identified some of the young men at the playground that afternoon. They then confirmed the identity of the suspect who set the fire, according to a press release.

The teen charged in the incident was arrested Wednesday and was released to his parent’s custody.

Police are investigating whether the June 17 fire is related to an earlier fire at the same playground.