HARTFORD COUNTY, MD — The third adult business in 10 months has been the target of an arsonist as of this week. A firefighter was injured battling the blaze that destroyed Express Videos, located in Fallston, MD.Deputy Fire Marshall Derek Chapman told the local press that the fire is being investigated as an arson. The store was closed at the time of the fire and no one was inside while it was burning.
Fires had been set on the front porch and the outside rear portion of the one-story, wood-frame store, the fire marshal’s office said.
Another arson damaged American Novelty Corporation in Fallston on July 1st and a porn store in Havre du Grace was also burned to the ground in January.
“I’m really upset about this,” said George Dail, owner of the building he rented to the Fallston bookstore’s owners for more than 20 years. “They were harming no one. I asked the state fire marshal if somebody has a mad on for burning adult bookstores. I know people crazy about abortion will burn down clinics, but we can’t pass laws to control morals… I would hate to think it was that.”
Scott Welsh, an employee at another Express Videos outlet in Belcamp, said local adult retailers have long faced protests and opposition in the county from church groups and county officials.
Welsh said, “There was a place that tried to open up in Edgewood, between the McDonald’s and the Burger King. They got picketed constantly and had to shut down… Ever since, then there’s been a fire here, a protest there.”
American Novelty Corporation is now open 24 hours in response to the attempted arson.
