Man charged with arson outside Jewish Museum of Maryland has malicious burning history, police say

Baltimore police announced the arrest of a man who is suspected of setting a fire outside the Jewish Museum of Maryland on Aug. 4.

On Sunday, official charges and recent related incidents were confirmed by police.

Baltimore police on Saturday announced the arrest of suspect Assadollah Hashemi, 66, who police said has a history of fire-related crimes. Hashemi is charged with second-degree arson and first-degree attempted malicious burning, documents show. Charging documents also listed damages to the Jewish Museum of Maryland are more than $1,000.

On Thursday, a suspect description was released as an “unknown older male with a gray beard and or goatee, wearing a tan bucket hat, dark colored shirt, Army fatigue pants, black and white shoes.”

According to charging documents, surveillance video confirmed a man matching the description left ignited objects at the museum and fled in a silver four-door Chrysler 300 with black rims. Video also showed a license plate that was linked to Hashemi through a Motor Vehicle Administration search.

Read more: WBAL