Employee of Prettyboy Market arrested, charged with arson
Police believe another person involved in setting June 29 fire
By Pat van den Beemt
pvdb@comcast.net
Posted 7/20/09
A woman who worked at Prettyboy Market, in Freeland, was arrested in connection with the June 29 fire that caused $500,000 worth of damage.
Stefanie Hunt, 26, of the 2100 block of Freeland Road, was arrested July 15, said Cpl. Michael Hill, spokesman for Baltimore County Police.
She is charged with second-degree arson, malicious burning, second-degree burglary and grand theft, Hill said.
She was held at the Baltimore County Detention Center until July 17 when she was released on $75,000 bail.
Police are continuing to investigate the fire and believe another person is involved, but have not yet made an arrest, Hill said.
The early morning fire started in the store’s office at the rear of the store. The one-alarm fire at the store, at the corner of Beckelysville and Middletown roads, was called in at 3:35 a.m., according to fire department spokesman Division Chief Michael Robinson.
The small market and gas station is owned by David Lawson, who bought the former Parish’s store in 1990, renovated it and reopened in 1991.
This is the second incident at the small store and gas station since December. On Dec. 30, a car traveling on Middletown Road crashed into the two-pump island and sheared one pump off at ground level. Lawson had two new pumps installed, but had not yet turned them on. They were not damaged in the fire.
Lawson, who is still dealing with insurance companies, said he doesn’t know if or when he will reopen.
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