A judge denied pre-trial release to a Buffalo Grove man accused of setting fire to his family’s home, causing $360,000 in damage on Saturday, just a year after a prior arson fire at the same home.
The Buffalo Grove Police Department and Buffalo Grove Fire Department responded around 7:15 p.m. last Thursday to the 900 block of Lucinda Drive in Buffalo Grove for a report of a structure fire.
A woman who lives at the home called 911 to report smoke in the attic.
Officers arrived first to find smoke and flames coming from the roof above the garage attached to the home. The alarm was upgraded for additional fire departments.
The occupants of the home, including Evan J. Rude, 24, of Buffalo Grove, were outside of the house.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said two dogs were in the backyard and five cats were reported to be in the home.
Firefighters were met with heavy smoke and flames on the second floor and attic as they started to extinguish the fire.
Fire crews brought the fire under control in approximately 15 minutes. The fire caused major damage to the home.
Officials said damage was estimated at approximately $360,000.
No injuries were reported but Rude was transported to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights for an evaluation.
An arson investigation was launched and video footage was obtained from a neighboring home, Katris said.
Katris said the video showed Rude walking along the side of the home while carrying a lighter. He took items from a recycling container and walked behind the rear of the home out of view of the camera, Katris said.
Smoke was then seen coming from the back of the home where he went.
Investigators found visible fire damage from the rear of the home starting where the roof valley of the attached garage meets the house, Katris said. The fire started at the gutter near the valley with vegetation and hay.
The combustible items were placed at the location and intentionally ignited, investigators determined.
Fire investigators also located a second area of origin at the base of the siding behind the attached garage.
Rude was charged with aggravated arson, a Class X felony; residential arson, a Class 1 felony; and arson, a Class 2 felony. He was transported to the Lake County Jail after a warrant was obtained for him.
A neighbor told police that he saw Rude in the back of the home on the evening prior to the fire, Katris said. He watched Rude throw a piece of metal off of the roof.
Rude’s mother reported that she was in her bedroom on the evening of the fire and smelled smoke.
She went to investigate and discovered a fire in the attic, Katris said. Rude was already outside of the home when she evacuated.
In September 2023, just over a year ago, Rude was arrested after Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Manuel Mandujano said officers were stationed at the Buffalo Grove Days festival when the man approached them and reported a car on fire nearby.
The Buffalo Grove Fire Department and Buffalo Grove Police Department arrived at the Rude family residence in the 900 block of Lucinda Drive at about 9:15 p.m. and found a car on fire inside the attached garage.
The car belonged to Rude’s mother, Mandujano said at the time. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire quickly.
Mandujano said video surveillance showed Rude walking up to the car, lighting a lighter and walking away before flames were seen from the vehicle.
Rude was charged in that case with criminal damage to property but the charge was dismissed after the man’s mother was uncooperative with the investigation and prosecution.
At the time of the most recent fire, Rude was on probation after pleading guilty to reckless conduct for a July 22, 2022, incident where he lit a fire to a garbage can next to a propane tank at Casey’s in Highland Park where he worked, Katris said.
Also at the time of the most recent fire, Rude was on pre-trial release in a disorderly conduct case where he was accused of falsely reporting a 6-year-old child in distress in a pond in Buffalo Grove that prompted a major fire department response.
A detention hearing was held Monday afternoon before Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak.
The judge granted petitions filed by prosecutors to detain Rude in jail pending trial. Prosecutors argued that Rude’s behavior is escalating and he is a danger to the community.