Carlos Felix, 20, of Waukegan, (inset) was arrested and charged with attempted arson in connection with an incident at his family’s home in the 1000 block of Judge Avenue in Waukegan on July 7, 2024. | Inset: Provided; Background Photo: Google Street View

A family woke up and called 911 after finding one of their family members had doused their home and cars in gasoline during an attempted arson in Waukegan, prosecutors said.

The incident happened just after 10 p.m. on July 7 at an apartment building in the 1000 block of Judge Avenue in Waukegan.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Cannon said the father of Carlos Felix, 20, of Waukegan, returned to the home after learning there was a fight between Felix and his sister.

The father found Felix intoxicated and asleep in bed. He was aggressive when awoken, Cannon said.

Felix’s father and mother then went to sleep. Cannon said Felix grabbed a gasoline can and poured gas over the cars outside.

He went inside and poured gasoline all over the living room, Cannon said.

The mother of Felix called 911 for help after she and her husband awoke to the smell of gasoline.

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The husband went to investigate and found Felix holding the gasoline can, Cannon said.

Cannon said the parents were in fear for their safety and realized what Felix did was not a prank.

The Waukegan Police Department responded and officers immediately smelled gasoline as they arrived at the scene.

Cannon said Felix was belligerent with officers and denied being involved in the offense.

Felix was indicted by a Lake County grand jury last week on charges of attempted residential arson and attempted arson, Class 2 and 3 felonies.

Felix has a history of domestic battery cases as a juvenile. He also has a 2022 unlawful use of a weapon case.

Cannon argued that Felix is dangerous and it was a “sheer miracle” that the family woke up before the man had a chance to find a match to start a fire.

Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Felix held in the Lake County Jail pending trial after granting a petition to detain.

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Felix is scheduled to appear in court again on August 26 for a case management conference.