CHICAGO — The person charged with setting a string of arson fires on the North Facet one 12 months in the past has been sentenced to probation after pleading responsible to 2 circumstances this week, court docket information present.
Chicago police launched surveillance photos of a suspect on January 4, 2024, following fires set behind 4 companies from Lincoln Sq. to Andersonville. Video of the arsonist additionally emerged:
Later that month, cops arrested Carmelito Rolon, 58, after 911 callers reported {that a} man was setting fires to dumpsters within the 1200 block of West Ardmore.
The police mentioned they noticed Rolon attain right into a dumpster along with his proper hand moments earlier than smoke and flames erupted contained in the bin. Rolon had a blue lighter in his hand as cops took him into custody, officers mentioned.
Prosecutors charged him with setting that fireplace police allegedly witnessed within the 1400 block of West Norwood and one other hearth behind Hopleaf, a bar and restaurant at 5154 North Clark.
Throughout a detention listening to final 12 months, Decide Maryam Ahmad famous that the fires Rolon was accused of setting “may have induced higher hurt.” Rolon allegedly replied that he “didn’t have an opportunity but” or phrases to that impact.
This week, Rolon pleaded responsible to 2 counts of arson. Prosecutors dropped a 3rd arson case. Decide Timothy Joyce sentenced him to 2 years of probation and 50 hours of neighborhood service.
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Tim Hecke is CWBChicago’s managing companion. He began his profession at KMOX, the legendary information radio station in St. Louis. From there, he moved on to work at stations in Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York Metropolis. Tim went on to construct syndicated radio information and content material providers that served each one in all America’s 100 largest radio markets. He grew to become CWBChicago’s managing companion in 2019.
His e-mail deal with is tim@cwbchicago.com
