CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. — Newly filed court documents are providing more details about the man accused of leaving homemade explosives outside a Capitol Heights fire station.
Authorities say Slater Chaia, of District Heights, was arrested last month after allegedly placing makeshift devices near Fire Station 805 on Aug. 13.
According to the documents, the devices were described as “improvised Molotov cocktails,” consisting of plastic bottles filled with a flammable liquid and fitted with wicks.
Surveillance video reportedly shows a man approaching the firehouse shortly before 8 a.m., placing two bottles near the station’s flagpole, then repositioning them—one on the front ramp and another inside the station’s mailbox—before walking away.
Investigators noted this was not the first time suspicious items were left at the same station, with similar incidents reported on June 1 and July 15, though no video evidence exists for those earlier cases.
Police said Chaia was taken into custody more than two weeks later after he was spotted across the street from the firehouse and allegedly seen tossing items onto the ramp again.
Chaia, who reportedly uses multiple aliases and birth dates, now faces charges including possession of a destructive device, possession of incendiary material with intent to build a destructive device, and reckless endangerment. His motive remains unclear.
