Gas-Soaked SUV Driver Charged With Arson

D.C. police say that the man who drove an SUV into an office building in Northwest DC has been charged with three felonies, including arson.

32-year-old Charles Morrell Ball, of New Market, Maryland, was charged with felony destruction of property, arson, and felony unauthorized use of a vehicle.

The SUV crashed into the office building at 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW at about 7:30 p.m. The FBI and a bomb squad were also called to the scene Friday night.

The Connecticut Avenue and L Street entrance to the Farragut North Metro Station was closed because of the police activity. That intersection of streets also was closed.

Police say that Ball is being held at a hospital for observation. Investigators are currently attempting to determine a motive.

Court records show that Ball is a registered sex offender. He was convicted of a third degree sex offense in April 2008. The Maryland Sex Offender Registry also lists Ball as owning a car whose license plates match those of the car that crashed into the building.

Court records also show that Ball was charged with speeding, driving without a license, and trying to flee police on foot in relation to an incident that took place in Allegany County in December 2010. He was also charged with speeding in Frederick County in March of this year. Both incidents also involved the car that Ball allegedly drove into the building on Connecticut Avenue.