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Man arrested after fire, domestic dispute

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

A Fort Washington man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly setting fire to a comforter during a domestic dispute in a Silver Spring home.

William Frank DeLoatch, 31, of the 3000 block of Alderton Avenue was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, attempted first-degree arson, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and five counts of reckless endangerment, according to Montgomery County Police. He is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.

Police said DeLoatch and a 22-year-old woman who lived in the 1900 block of Rosemary Hills Drive began arguing in a bedroom. The woman told DeLoatch to leave, according to police.

He refused and the woman threw an alcoholic beverage at him. It landed on the bed. Police said DeLoatch lit the alcohol and the stuffing from a comforter on fire.

The woman tried to call police but reported that DeLoatch knocked her down. DeLoatch put the fire out and went downstairs, according to police. Police were called to the residence by another caller, arrived about 1:30 a.m. and arrested him without incident.

During the incident, a 6-month-old was in the bedroom with DeLoatch and the woman, and three other children, aged 2, 3 and 7, were in a bedroom across the hall. The children were not injured.