The New Market, Md., man who drove his gasoline-soaked SUV into a downtown building and attempted to set it on fire will appear in court on Monday on a charge of assault with intent to kill.
According to reports, at about 7:30 p.m. Friday, a Jeep driven by Charles Ball, 32, crashed into the lobby of a downtown office building in the 1000 block of Connecticut Avenue Northwest. Mr. Ball exited the car and attempted to flick on a lighter before he was arrested by police.
Mr. Ball initially faced multiple charges for arson, destruction of property and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Mr. Ball is listed on the Maryland Sex Offenders Registry for a 2008 conviction of a third-degree sex offense.
Maryland court documents show Mr. Ball also has previous charges of speeding, driving without a license and fleeing an officer on foot. There is also a domestic violence charge against Mr. Ball, filed in Frederick County the same day as the crash.
• Meredith Somers can be reached at msomers@washingtontimes.com.
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