A judge refused to release a McHenry man charged with arson after prosecutors say he tampered with a gas line, causing a fire that damaged a house in Fox River Grove, while high on cocaine and fled the scene.
Dennis G. Carol, 48, of McHenry, was charged with one count of arson causing to damage to property, a Class 2 felony.
Prosecutors said Carol intentionally started a fire inside a residence around 6:25 p.m. on April 21 in the 100 block of Grove Avenue in Fox River Grove.
Fox River Grove Fire Protection District Chief Robert Kreher said fire crews arrived and found smoke showing from the eaves of a single-story, single-family residence.
Firefighters pulled a hose line, forced entry to the home and began extinguishing the fire.
The fire was brought under control within 15 minutes, Kreher said.
No firefighters were injured and no occupants were at the scene.
Court documents said the investigation showed the fire was intentionally set by flexible gas pipes being twisted, with signs of a heat source being applied to the outside of some pipes.
The fire caused significant damage to the home and required an extensive emergency response, prosecutors said.
Carol, who witnesses described as leaving the home just before the fire became visible, was located a short distance from the home, prosecutors said.
Officers spoke with Carol, who reported that he had been using cocaine all day in an attempt to get his heart to stop. He indicated the fire was accidental, court documents said.
An ambulance was requested for Carol and he became combative with paramedics as well as officers assisting them during his transport to a local hospital.
Court documents said Carol used the N-word toward a paramedic and threatened to kill him.
Carol was only initially charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer, aggravated assault and resisting a peace officer in April but last week was charged with arson.
Prosecutors argued in court that Carol presents a real and present threat to the safety of the community and that no conditions of release could adequately mitigate that threat.
McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis granted the petition to detain Carol while he awaits trial following an Initial Appearance Court hearing.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese praised the response of first responders and the work of investigators who helped bring charges in the case.
“Intentionally setting fire to a home places lives at extraordinary risk and threatens the safety of entire neighborhoods,” Freese said.
“We appreciate the outstanding work of the Fox River Grove Fire Department, the Fox River Grove Police Department, and all assisting agencies whose quick actions helped protect the community and preserve critical evidence. We will continue to seek detention in cases where the alleged conduct demonstrates a clear threat to public safety,” Freese said.
The home was deemed uninhabitable due to the “moderate damage” the fire caused, Kreher said.
The person who was living there was the same person who was also occupying another house, kiddie corner to the house on the same block in the 100 block of Grove Avenue, in February, Kreher said.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Carol knowingly started the fire in the residence, which endangered other residents nearby and caused the home to be condemned.
The other house caught on fire on February 20 and the residents called 911 and escaped the home safely prior to the fire department arriving, Fox River Grove Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Eldee Jackson said at the time.
Jackson said fire crews arrived and found heavy smoke and flames coming from all sides of a single-family, two-story house.
Firefighters initiated a defensive attack on the fire by pulling hose lines and attempting to extinguish the fire from the outside.
Jackson said fire crews encountered low-pressure issues with the fire hydrants on the street, hampering the extinguishment of the blaze.
Approximately 13-14 fire departments responded to the scene to assist, Jackson said.
No injuries were reported to any occupants of the home or responding firefighters. The family was displaced and the home was a total loss, Jackson said.
The fires were both being investigated by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and the Fox River Grove Police Department.
The arson case was filed against Carol on Thursday and he remains in custody at the McHenry County Jail.
Carol is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday.