Two suspects have been charged with arson after they allegedly “firebombed” a house near downtown Crystal Lake in the middle of the night while a resident was inside.
The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department and Crystal Lake Police Department responded around 1:45 a.m. on April 20 to the 100 block of North Main Street in Crystal Lake for a report of a structure fire.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said a house was damaged by an arson fire.
Firefighters arrived and reported a two-story residence with a small smoldering fire.
Police investigated and identified the suspects who started the fire as Brittany L. Terrell, 32, of Garden Prairie, and Jesse J. Mendez, 37, of Garden Prairie, court records show.
Both were charged with aggravated arson, residential arson, arson causing damage to property, criminal damage to property by fire and criminal damage to property under $500.
The complaint said Terrell and Mendez threw an ignited bottle containing a flammable liquid and a t-shirt at the residence.
A glass window to a storm door of the home’s screened porch was damaged.
A 62-year-old resident was inside the house when the fire occurred, the complaint said.
Court documents said that Terrell and Mendez are husband and wife and that they drove to the home before attempting to set it on fire.
Terrell said she threw the “firebomb” for her husband while he was present, court documents said, adding that the woman did not know the person living there.
The woman reportedly said she prepared the firebomb using nail polish remover and used the device to try and “scare” someone because they did not follow through on a drug deal.
Court documents said Mendez sent a threatening text message prior to the incident that the targeted house would be damaged.
Arrest warrants were issued for the two and they were taken into custody on Monday at the McHenry County Jail.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Mendez and Terrell pending trial, arguing they pose a danger to the community.
McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the petitions and said that Mendez knew the residence was occupied. “His intentions were clear, he did what he intended to do, and what he threatened to do.”
The judge also said during the initial court hearing that Terrell had reason to believe the home was “not even party to the drug transaction.”
“The defendant is a threat to the public and community at large. She attempted to start a home on fire knowing someone was in it, and no condition or combination of conditions can mitigate that threat,” Lamb said regarding Terrell.
Mendez is set to appear in court again on May 28 for a preliminary hearing and Terrell is set to appear in court again on May 29 for a preliminary hearing.