Former Police Chief is now Convicted Serial Arsonist

March 4, 2026

Former Laurel Police Chief David Crawford Sentenced in Maryland Serial Arson Case.

Former Laurel, Maryland Police Chief David Michael Crawford went from holding one of the most trusted public safety positions in the state to being convicted and sentenced in a shocking serial arson case that prosecutors said targeted people he believed had wronged him.

Crawford, a former police chief in Laurel and District Heights and a former major with the Prince George’s County Police Department, was arrested in March 2021 after a multi-jurisdictional investigation connected him to a string of intentionally set fires across Maryland. According to Howard County officials, Crawford was arrested in connection with twelve arsons that occurred in Howard, Frederick, Charles, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties from 2011 through 2020.

The investigation described a disturbing pattern. Howard County officials said investigators had surveillance video in many cases showing similar methods, including fires started with gasoline and a stick wrapped in cloth. Investigators also said they linked multiple cases after discovering Crawford had previous disagreements with several victims, and that a January 2021 search of Crawford’s residence uncovered evidence including a list of targets who were known victims.

Crawford’s background made the case especially alarming. Howard County officials said Crawford served as Laurel’s police chief from 2006 until his resignation in 2010. Before that, he had served as chief of the District Heights Police Department and as a major with the Prince George’s County Police Department.

Victims Included Former Officials, Law Enforcement Figures, Relatives, and Doctors

According to prosecutors and investigators, the victims included a former City of Laurel official, former law enforcement officials, relatives, Crawford’s former medical providers, and a resident in his neighborhood. The Associated Press reported that prosecutors said the fires targeted buildings belonging to people Crawford considered adversaries.

The Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office said the case involved a long-running investigation that spanned nearly a decade and multiple jurisdictions. Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson said Crawford’s law enforcement career made the conduct even more serious, stating that Crawford “should have had a greater degree of respect for the rule of law.”

Howard County Conviction and Life Sentence

In March 2023, a Howard County jury convicted Crawford of eight counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree arson, and one count of first-degree malicious burning in connection with four separate Howard County fires. The Maryland Appellate Court later summarized that Crawford was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus a consecutive 75-year sentence.

The appellate opinion also affirmed the judgments against Crawford, rejecting his challenges related to evidence from other fires and testimony concerning his phone.

Additional Montgomery County Sentence

Crawford’s legal troubles did not end with the Howard County case. In February 2026, he was sentenced to 55 years in prison in Montgomery County after pleading guilty to arson charges connected to fires set at homes owned by family members in Clarksburg. WTOP reported that he pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree arson and one count of second-degree arson for fires started at family members’ homes between 2016 and 2020.

NBC4 Washington reported that investigators said Crawford committed 13 arsons in five Maryland counties over nearly a decade before he was caught in 2021. The same report said prosecutors described revenge as the motive and said Crawford had a target list.

A Police Chief Turned Criminal Defendant

This case stands out because Crawford was not a low-level officer caught in a single moment of misconduct. He was a former police chief, a former command-level officer, and someone who understood the criminal justice system from the inside. Prosecutors said the fires put residents, families, firefighters, and police officers in danger.

For the public, the case is another reminder that badges, titles, and decades in law enforcement do not place anyone above accountability. Crawford’s former role gave him authority and public trust. His convictions and sentences show how badly that trust was betrayed.

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