A man admitted to committing an arson fire by pouring gasoline and lighting a sign on fire outside a Waukegan apartment building because he “got the urge” and wanted to “further his artistic side.”
The Waukegan Fire Department and Waukegan Police Department responded in the afternoon on August 3 to the Westwood Apartments, 2732 Westwood Drive, for a report of an outside fire.
The sign for the apartment complex at the intersection of Dilger Avenue and Westwood Drive was on fire, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Savannah Halcomb.
The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The sign was approximately 10 feet by 4 feet and was wooden with a shingle roof covering.
Halcomb said the apartment name was engraved on the sign and the owner of the apartment estimated that the sign was approximately $5,000.
The sign was completely burnt to the ground and the grass around the sign was also burnt. A gas can was also burnt and had been left at the scene.
A witness told officers that he saw a male Hispanic get out of a red four-door car and pour gasoline on the sign before getting back into the car and driving southbound.
A detective obtained surveillance footage from a nearby camera which showed a male Hispanic getting out of the driver’s side of a red vehicle and approaching the sign, Halcomb said.
The sign can be seen catching on fire and the male got back into the car and drove southbound.
The vehicle had distinct rust marks and dents on it. Automated license plate cameras were used to identify the vehicle.
Officers later went to the registered address and observed the red car with the same distinctive rusting and dents on it parked behind the residence.
Halcomb said officers spoke with the homeowner, who reported that his son lived with him and the car belonged to him.
Officers spoke with the son, identified as Alexander Carbajal, 22, of Waukegan.
He appeared to be the suspect in the video and also had burn marks on his nose and cheeks.
Carbajal said he was “burning sh-t” and got the burns. He also said he thought the police were there because they had evidence of him “burning sh-t,” Halcomb said.
Carbajal told them he had burned a sign and said he did it because he had an urge to.
He also told officers that he is an artist and burning things helps him to be more artistic and helps further his artistic side, Halcomb said.
Carbajal said he got the urge, obtained the gas can and burnt the Westwood sign.
He said he has no connections to the apartment complex and it was random.
Carbajal was charged with one count of arson causing over $150 in damage, a Class 2 felony.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Carbajal pending trial, arguing he poses a real and present danger.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim denied the petition and released Carbajal from custody following a detention hearing.
The judge said he heard no evidence from prosecutors regarding the dangerousness that Carbajal poses to specific persons, which is a requirement under state law for a judge to detain a defendant.
Carbajal was placed on a curfew, ordered to obtain a mental health evaluation and not possess any weapons or incendiary devices.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday for a status of preliminary hearing.