Maryland State Fire Marshal
News Release Martin O’Malley Governor
William E. Barnard State Fire Marshal
THREE ARRESTS IN MANUFACTURING AND USE OF DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES CALVERT COUNTY, MARYLAND (November 16, 2011) – An ongoing investigation by Deputy State Fire Marshals has lead to the arrest of one adult and two juveniles. Brandon W. Kitchen (19) of Chesapeake Beach was charged with Manufacture, Possession, and Use of a Destructive Device and two counts of Reckless Endangerment. Two juveniles of Chesapeake Beach were charged with Manufacture, Possession, and Use of a Destructive Device. On the evening of November 8, 2011 in the area of St. Andrew’s Drive, Chesapeake Beach, Kitchen manufactured and detonated an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) in the presence of an 11 year old juvenile. Later in the evening, the 11 year old juvenile proceeded to manufacture and detonate a replica IED with an additional 11 year old juvenile. The penalty for the Manufacture, Possession, and Use of a Destructive Device is 25 years imprisonment and/or $250,000 in fines. Reckless Endangerment carries a penalty of 5 years and./or $5,000 in fines. The two juveniles were released to the care and custody of their parents. Kitchen was served with a warrant and is currently being held at the Calvert County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond. The construction of these devices, and those of similar incidents, have been misrepresented as pranks; however, the destructive devices have the potential for serious bodily injury. ### Media contact: Bruce D. Bouch, Deputy State Fire Marshal; 443-324-6876 The Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of State Police dedicated to helping protect citizens from fire and explosion through a comprehensive program of education, inspection, investigation and fire protection engineering. For more information on fire safety call 1-800-525-3124, log onto our website at: www.firemarshal.state.md.us and/or follow us on Facebook under “Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal”.
1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208