Maryland State Fire Marshal
News Release Larry Hogan Governor
Brian S. Geraci State Fire Marshal
CHARLES COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH IMPERSONATING A FIRE OFFICIAL WHITE PLAINS, MD (January 23, 2015) – Deputy State Fire Marshals have charged 41 year-old Richard Donald Francisco, II with Impersonating Member of an Emergency Squad. On January 3, 2015, fire officials were operating on the scene of an apartment fire at 4740 Crain Highway in White Plains. The suspect, wearing Prince George’s County Fire Department gear, approached the Incident Commander and advised he was a chief officer and requested to assist with the incident. Believing he was a member of the department he was representing, Francisco was assigned a position at the scene. After the incident, fire officials revealed he was no longer affiliated with the department. Investigators secured a criminal summons and served it to Francisco at his residence today without incident. If convicted of the charge, he faces up to three years imprisonment.
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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.mdsp.org/firemarshal and/or http://facebook.com/MarylandStateFireMarshal. Media contact: Bruce D. Bouch, Deputy State Fire Marshal; 443-324-6876
1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208