Investigation reveals Severn man died in house fire he intentionally set

SEVERN, Md. — Anne Arundel County firefighters battled a house fire in Severn on Monday.

Crews were called to the 100 block of Gambrills Road.

According to police, a man at the house was suffering a mental health crisis at the time of the fire.

When they arrived, officers learned that the man, identified as 50-year-old Mark Harvey, was assaulting an elderly man inside the home and destroying the property.

Once confronted by police, he ran into an open attic access and barricaded himself in.

Officers remained in constant contact with Harvey until they noticed smoke coming from the roof, attic of the home.

As the smoke and fire started to progress, the suspect made his way to the opening of the attic, the ceiling then collapsed causing him to fall through.

He was removed from residence by officers and taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The elderly man who was assaulted was taken to a hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.

Firefighters determined the fire's origin to be in the attic and cause of the fire to be arson, intentionally set by Harvey as he was negotiating with police.