Crime & Safety

Edgewood Man Charged in Arson, Assault on Homeless Man

A 20-year-old Edgewood man is charged with first-degree assault and first-degree arson, among other offenses.

An Edgewood man faces multiple charges related to a fire that broke out at a homeless encampment last week, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal.

Louis Colon Jr., 20, was taken into custody at his home in the 1700 block of Crimson Court Tuesday on assault, arson and weapons charges, the fire marshal reported.

According to deputy state fire marshals, Colon intentionally burned down "a makeshift homeless structure" behind New Hope Christian Fellowship of United Methodist Church, less than three-quarters of a mile from his residence.

At 8 p.m. on Feb. 11, the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company was called to the 2000 block of Watergate Court in Edgewood to put out a one-alarm fire, which crews extinguished within minutes, the report stated.

Find out what's happening in Bel Airwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Investigators determined that two 47-year-old men had been living in separate makeshift structures behind the church, and Colon held one at gunpoint while setting fire to the other one's encampment, according to the report. The structure Colon set on fire was made of plastic and boxes, The Aegis reported.

Colon then threatened the man he had held at gunpoint and ran away, the report said.

Find out what's happening in Bel Airwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, according to the fire marshal.

Colon was charged with first and second-degree arson, first and second-degree assault, possession of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure and three counts of arson.

He is being held at the Harford County Detention Center on $250,000 bond, the fire marshal reported.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.