Baltimore Man Arrested for Intentionally Setting Vehicle Ablaze Along CSX Tracks

Authorities arrested 53-year-old Darnell Anthony Brown on Jan. 16 after the Maryland Fire Marshal's Office concluded he intentionally set his vehicle ablaze along CSX railroad tracks on Dec. 19, 2025. The vehicle fire, which burned on the 1100 block of Joppa Road in Towson around 2:45 a.m., forced crews to halt train traffic for several hours while firefighters extinguished the blaze and secured the scene.

Fire crews from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company responded to the early morning fire. Investigators say Brown initially told officers he had been abducted and the vehicle stolen, but evidence at the scene and follow-up inquiries contradicted that account. He was arrested at his Baltimore home and charged with second-degree arson, malicious burning, obstructing railroad operations, trespassing and making a false statement to an officer. Brown was released on a $20,000 bond.

The immediate consequences reached beyond the burned vehicle. CSX halted rail operations in the area for several hours, disrupting freight movements and creating ripple effects for businesses that depend on freight schedules. Local residents were awakened by emergency activity, and neighbors along Joppa Road faced road closures and the presence of multiple emergency vehicles in the predawn hours.

The arrest comes amid a string of recent arson incidents across the region, a pattern that has heightened concern among fire officials and residents. Deliberate fires near rail infrastructure raise particular safety issues: they can threaten crews working along rights-of-way, damage signaling or track-adjacent equipment, and require coordinated responses from municipal fire departments and state investigators. The Maryland Fire Marshal's involvement underscores the severity of the incident and the potential legal consequences for those found responsible.

For Towson and Baltimore communities, the case underscores vulnerability near transportation corridors and the need for vigilance. Residents who witnessed unusual activity around the tracks the night of Dec. 19, or who have information related to other arson incidents in the area, are urged to contact local law enforcement so investigators can connect dots in ongoing inquiries.

As the legal process moves forward, prosecutors will decide how to proceed on the array of charges filed. For neighbors, commuters and local businesses, the arrest may offer some immediate reassurance, but it also signals continued scrutiny of arson trends and the importance of community reporting to prevent future incidents.