LEONARDTOWN, Md. — A man is facing charges after police say he purposely set fire to a hotel room in California, Maryland, Monday evening.
According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal, the fire caused 46 guests to be displaced and caused an estimated $750,000 in damages.
Deputies from the St. Mary's Sheriff's Office were called to the Super 8 on Three Notch Road by an employee who reported that people were arguing in one of the rooms. The worker also told deputies the occupants had broken the windows and barricaded the door.
Deputies arrived minutes later and reportedly found 64-year-old Anthony Cleaver Mason in the room trying to start a fire. Deputies pulled the fire alarm and began evacuating guests while calling the fire department.
Nearly 50 firefighters from various departments arrived to find flames showing and multiple people injured after jumping from the third flood.
A woman and child were helped out of the hotel. The woman was taken to an area hospital after suffering a medical emergency. The child was evaluated and released to a family member.
Mason was arrested at the hotel and charged with two counts of second-degree arson, reckless endangerment, and malicious burning first-degree. He is currently being held without bond at the St. Mary's County Detention Center.
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