SALISBURY MAN CHARGED WITH ARSON

Salisbury, MD - Deputy State Fire Marshals have charged 68-year-old Whayland A. Nelson of Salisbury, Maryland, with arson and numerous other charges, following an intentionally set fire on August 25, 2023, at 302 Decatur Avenue in Salisbury, Maryland.

On August 25^th at 4:13 AM, the Salisbury Police Department responded to the Decatur Avenue address and observed evidence of a small fire on the exterior of the home. They contacted the Office of the State Fire Marshal to make a response and conduct an origin and cause investigation of the fire.

Deputy State Fire Marshals arrived on the scene and determined the cause of the fire was incendiary (Arson). Through the course of their investigation, they determined an occupant of the house and Nelson had a dispute at the Decatur Avenue address earlier that morning. The State Fire Marshal's office later developed Nelson as a suspect for setting the fire.

Deputy State Fire Marshals applied for and were granted an arrest warrant for Nelson. He was located this morning in the area of the Salisbury Police Department.

Officers from the Salisbury Police Department, as well as Deputy State Fire Marshals, were able to arrest Nelson without incident. He was transported to the Wicomico County Detention Center where he is being held without bond.

Nelson was charged by Deputy State Fire Marshals with Arson 1^st Degree, Arson 2^nd Degree, Malicious Burning 2^nd Degree, Assault 2^nd Degree, and two counts of reckless endangerment as the home was occupied when he set the fire.

All subjects mentioned in this press release are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.