Prosecutors said an argument that started between family members over a dog was the catalyst that resulted in a 21-year-old Beach Park man dousing his home with gasoline and setting it on fire Thursday night.
Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney Nicholas Shepherd told a Lake County Judge Friday that detention was necessary for Erik J. Crump, 21, after he started his family home on fire Thanksgiving night following an argument with family members.
Shepherd said “the argument (with family members) began over a dog” and escalated to Crump pouring gasoline on the home and starting it ablaze.
“The defendant stated he decided to do what he did, and he has no real care for the safety or well-being for his family,” Shepherd said.
Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the home in the 40100 block of North Lone Oak Road at 7:30 p.m. on November 27 for a non-violent, verbal domestic dispute between Crump and family members.
Family members were upset with Crump, claiming he was antagonizing and arguing with others, Covelli said.
Sheriff’s deputies were able to de-escalate the argument, Covelli said. He added Crump and others did not commit a crime and Crump agreed to keep to himself for the remainder of the evening.
Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies were called back to the same residence at approximately 8:40 p.m. for reports that the home was on fire.
As firefighters arrived, they reported seeing a man matching Crump’s description, armed with a knife, standing on the side of the roadway about a block from the residence, Covelli said.
Crump ran from the scene, Covelli said.
Covelli said Crump was seen fleeing on foot from the fire, so sheriff’s deputies established a perimeter, and a canine team responded.
Canines tracked Crump’s scent to a dead-end in the roadway, indicating he left the area in a vehicle.
Winthrop Harbor Fire Department Chief Rocco Campanella said firefighters were called to the scene at 8:40 p.m. for a structure fire.
Upon arrival, crews observed heavy smoke coming from the structure, Campanella said.
Firefighters were then alerted that there was a possible armed suspect in the area, Campanella said. This resulted in a delay in fire suppression efforts to ensure scene security and protect firefighters, Campanella said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was able to secure the scene and confirmed the suspect was not in the general area, Campanella said.
Campanella said a working still alarm and a Mutual Aid Box Alarm were requested, bringing additional crews from across Lake County.
Due to the lack of fire hydrants in the immediate area, Campanella said an extended supply hose was laid to provide water to the scene.
Crews from Zion Fire Rescue Department, Pleasant Prairie Fire & Rescue, Beach Park Fire Department, Newport Township Fire Protection District, Antioch Fire Department, Gurnee Fire Department, Libertyville Fire Department, North Chicago Fire Department, Bristol Fire Department, Lake Forest Fire Department, Lake Zurich Fire Department, Salem Lakes Fire & Rescue, Somers Fire & Rescue, and Wauconda Fire Protection District assisted in extinguishing the fire.
Campanella said crews cleared the scene at approximately 2 a.m. Friday.
Sheriff’s deputies tracked Crump’s location to a storage facility in the 39400 block of North Lewis Avenue in Beach Park, where he was taken into custody without incident.
Further investigation by sheriff’s detectives determined that Crump was informed by his family after the earlier argument that he was going to be kicked out of his home, Covelli said.
Crump left the residence, Covelli said, but returned a short time later and went to his bedroom, near the garage, before leaving again.
Moments later, the family saw smoke filling the home and immediately evacuated.
Detectives concluded that Crump used an accelerant to set his room on fire before fleeing the residence again.
The home sustained major damage in the fire.
After reviewing the facts and circumstances of the incident with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved a Class X felony count of Aggravated Arson and a Class 1 felony count of Residential Arson against Crump, Covelli said.
Crump appeared in front of Lake County Judge Deborah Menas early Friday, where prosecutors filed a motion to detain Crump in jail until trial.
Crump is due back in court Monday for a Detention hearing.