A Buffalo Grove man is charged with aggravated arson after setting fire to a home that resulted in $360,000 in damages, authorities confirmed Saturday.
Evan Rude, 24, of Buffalo Grove, was taken into custody at 9 p.m. Friday and charged with Class X felony aggravated arson with known people present, residential arson, a Class 1 felony, and arson to property worth in excess of $150, a Class 2 felony.
If found guilty of the most serious charge, Rude could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.
Rude appeared in Lake County First Appearance Court Saturday where he was told the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office had filed the necessary paperwork to detain him until trial.
Rude’s detention hearing is scheduled for Monday.
Buffalo Grove Police confirmed Rude was charged after setting fire to a home in the 900 block of Lucinda Avenue Thursday evening that left the home inhabitable and caused $360,000 in damages.
Buffalo Grove firefighters were dispatched to the home at 7:16 p.m. Thursday and Buffalo Grove police who arrived on the scene reported seeing smoke inside the house.
Buffalo Grove firefighters saw heavy smoke showing on the second floor upon arrival, prompting them to perform an aggressive interior attack, authorities said.
All occupants were safely out of the home when firefighters arrived on the scene and the fire was deemed under control within approximately 15 minutes, authorities said.
However, despite the swift action from firefighters, the home still sustained about $360,000 in damages and was deemed uninhabitable, authorities said.
This isn’t the first time Rude has been charged by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office due to an incident involving a fire in Buffalo Grove.
Rude was charged with criminal property damage when, at the age of 23, he lit a fire in a car parked inside the garage at his mother’s home in the 900 block of Lucinda in September 2023.
In the previous case, Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney Manuel Mandujano said officers were stationed at the Buffalo Grove Days festival on September 2, 2023, when Rude approached and said a car was on fire nearby.
The Buffalo Grove Fire Department and Buffalo Grove Police Department arrived at the residence in the 900 block of Lucinda Drive at about 9:15 p.m. and found a car on fire inside the attached garage of a house.
The car belonged to Rude’s mother, Mandujano said, but firefighters were able to extinguish the fire quickly.
Mandujano said video surveillance showed Rude walking up to the car, lighting a lighter, walking away and flames could seen from the vehicle.