December 4th, 2014 by WCBC Radio
A joint investigation involving investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Cumberland Fire Department and with the assistance of Cumberland Police Department today has resulted in charges being brought against a Cumberland man after he confessed to setting several fires in the city with the latest being two fires earlier this morning.
The suspect, identified as Patrick Levi Kneisley (23) of 1404 Virginia Avenue, Cumberland has been charged with
4 counts of 2nd Degree Arson, 1 count Attempted 2nd Degree Arson, 4 counts of 1st Degree Malicious Burning, 3
counts of Malicious Burning, 4 counts of Malicious Destruction of Property more than $1,000.00, 1 count of
Malicious Destruction of Property less than $1,000.00, 2 counts of Arson of Trash Container, 1 count of Trespassing,
1 count Theft Less than $1,000.00, 1 count of Rogue and Vagabond and 1 count Malicious Destruction of Property
Scheme. It has been confirmed Kneisley is a member of Baltimore Pike Volunteer Fire Department and has been
immediately suspended from the department pending results of the investigation.
On October 1, 2014 at 2:18 AM in the 300 block of North Centre Street a vehicle was determined to be
intentionally ignited by investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal and Cumberland Fire Department. A
total of 5 fires have occurred since that date to include: storage containers, brush, trash cans located at the
Cumberland Police Department gun range and concluded with a garage located at 123 East Roberts Street at 12:48
AM and a vehicle fire in the 1000 block of Lexington Lane at 2:34 AM this morning. A clear motive was not
established at the time of the arrest. The estimated total damage resulting from these fires is approximately
$40,000.
The investigation will continue to identify if Kneisley is responsible for any other fires in the area. Kneisley is
currently being held at Allegany County Detention Center on a $250,000.00 bond.
WCBC News has learned that Kneisley had previously served jail times for a number of arson incidents that occured in downtown Cumberland. Dick Devore, Director of Emergency Services for Allegany County, was a guest on WCBC's "Dave Norman Show" Thursday to discuss how Kneisley was allowed to serve as a volunteer fireman given his criminal background…
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