Hagerstown employee arrested after allegedly threatening to bomb a waste incineration plant

HAGERSTOWN, Maryland – A Hagerstown man was arrested Friday after allegedly threatening to bomb the Maryland Vehicle Administration building.

Anthony Jacob Fritz, an employee of the MVA on Colonel Henry K. Douglas Drive, is charged with threatening mass violence and threatening arson.

According to police, the incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Friday when a Maryland State Police officer on the scene was informed by coworkers that Fritz claimed he wanted to carry out a bomb attack on the building.

After a preliminary investigation, the trooper requested the bomb unit from the State Fire Marshal’s office and an explosive detection dog team from the OSFM. K9 “Rosie” searched the building, but no explosives were found. Deputy State Fire Marshals took over the investigation.

After consultation with the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, Fritz was taken into custody on an arrest warrant.

Authorities said investigators applied for and received an Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) allowing them to search Fritz’s home.

Deputy fire marshals and patrol officers searched Fritz’s building and found 26 firearms and 67 containers of ammunition.

Fritz was later taken to a local hospital for medical examination.