Man facing arson charges for June blaze that destroyed W. Ocean City home

WEST OCEAN CITY, Md. – An arrest has been made in an arson that destroyed a house and injured two firefighters back in June.

56-year-old John Edward Cropper of Ocean City is now facing multiple charges. The fire broke out around 1:50 a.m. in a home at 12849 Harbor Road on June 22nd. The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office says the fire destroyed the home, a boathouse, and damaged three other homes in the area. Several fire companies from the area were summoned to fight the blaze. Two firefighters were injured while battling the fire.

Cropper was arrested Friday evening in Snow Hill. He was charged with four counts of first degree arson, one count of second degree arson, and malicious burning. Cropper appeared before a Maryland District Court Commissioner and was held without bail pending a bond review hearing. That hearing is expected to happen early next week.