Sexual Assault Charge Filed Against Career Firefighter

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The county fire chief has spoken out regarding the arrest of a Howard County career firefighter in connection to the sexual assault of a woman in Baltimore County.

Xavier Dove, 26, was charged Friday and taken to the Baltimore County Detention Center where he is being held without bond. Dove works as a volunteer firefighter out of the Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Company in Baltimore County.

Dove also is a career firefighter with the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

On May 2, the victim reported to police that Dove sexually assaulted her, authorities said. According to police, the victim also is a volunteer firefighter at the Liberty Road station. Following the investigation, police issued a warrant for Dove's arrest.

“On Friday, May 22, 2026, the department was made aware of the arrest of an HCDFRS career firefighter, Xavier Dove, for an incident that occurred in Baltimore County. Firefighter Dove was off duty from HCDFRS at the time of the incident. He has been an employee of HCDFRS since 2022. The incident is currently under investigation. Firefighter Dove will remain on leave from the department," stated HCDFRS Fire Chief Louis Winston.