Detectives are questioning a person of interest after a series of arson fires broke out in Lakeview and Lincoln Park early Thursday. The fires occurred in an area where waves of overnight arson fires have broken out repeatedly since last autumn.
Three fires were reported between 5 a.m. and 5:15 a.m. Thursday in alleys on the 2800 block of North Broadway; the 2700 block of North Clark, and the 2600 block of North Orchard.
The Orchard fire spread to two nearby garages and damaged three vehicles, according to a CPD report. Several arson fires have been set within a block of the Orchard address since last year. And the Broadway fire occurred within steps of where other fires were set during arson sprees on June 29 of this year and November 2, 2019.
Officers searched the area this morning and detained a suspect near Wiggly Field Dog Park, 2645 North Sheffield. CPD spokesperson Kellie Bartoli said officers are interviewing the man, but no charges have been filed.
More than 20 arson fires have been set in the area bounded by Wellington, Fullerton, Pine Grove, and Halsted streets since last October, according to fire department and police records.
Investigators who arrested a man for allegedly setting a series of fires on the Far North Side around Christmastime said in their reports that the man may be responsible for the arson pattern in Lakeview and Lincoln Park.
That man, Christopher Slattery, is on electronic monitoring, according to Cook County Sheriff’s Office records. But some cops who are familiar with the case believe another person is responsible for setting the fires in Lakeview and Lincoln Park last year.
Police last autumn issued a community alert about the unsolved arson cases in which they advised residents to secure city garbage cans and to keep large or bulky items such as boxes and furniture indoors until pick-up day.