The person charged with homicide and arson within the dying of Chicago Hearth Division Capt. David Meyer “positioned everybody within the space in peril that evening,” a choose mentioned Saturday throughout the suspect’s detention listening to in a courtroom filled with Meyer’s fellow firefighters.
Charles Ok. Inexperienced, who lives close to the fireplace scene within the 5400 block of West Potomac Avenue, faces homicide and aggravated arson prices, Chicago police mentioned. He was ordered held at a detention listening to Saturday by Choose Antara Nath Rivera.
“What I’ve earlier than me is a random occasion,” Rivera mentioned. “It may have unfold. … [But] the defendant positioned first responders in peril, which led to the demise of Captain Meyer. … [Green] positioned everybody within the space in peril that evening.”
Greater than half the individuals within the courtroom had been Chicago Hearth Division firefighters and paramedics, together with Meyer’s relations, Ald. Ray Lopez (fifteenth) and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza.
Video footage captured Inexperienced strolling down an alley that related his residence to the place the fireplace occurred round 3:28 a.m., disappearing for lower than a minute, after which reappearing and strolling away as flickering lights indicative of a fireplace start to look seconds later, prosecutors mentioned. About half an hour later, Chicago firefighters responded to the scene.
Whereas preventing the fireplace, Meyer entered the storage when the roof collapsed on him, reigniting the fireplace, prosecutors mentioned as at the very least one firefighter’s head fell into his palms behind the courtroom. Meyer was taken to Stroger Hospital the place he was later pronounced useless.
When Inexperienced was arrested later the identical day, police recovered lighters, lighter fluid, burnt paper and the garments Inexperienced had been captured on digicam carrying — which preliminary exams confirmed had accelerants nonetheless on them — although he denied involvement within the fireplace on the time, in keeping with prosecutors. The Workplace of Hearth Investigation, assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, mentioned the fireplace was from ignition of contents in a trash bin “by human motion.”
Prosecutors didn’t give a motive within the arson.
He, in addition to a fuel station clerk who works the place he stopped after allegedly sparking the blaze and his girlfriend, recognized Inexperienced in surveillance video. Public defender Jaclyn McAllister mentioned the protection had not acquired any of the movies talked about by the prosecution.
Inexperienced had a warrant out for his arrest in reference to a March retail theft, along with 5 prior felonies for and eight prior failures to look, in keeping with prosecutors. He’ll seem in court docket for the retail theft April 28, a day earlier than he’s set to look in court docket once more on the arson and homicide prices.
After the listening to, Patrick Cleary, president of the Chicago Firefighters Union, mentioned Inexperienced’s historical past and the proof confirmed why he needs to be detained. He mentioned he had spoken to Meyer’s household on the hospital, who had been “damaged up” about their loss.
“We’re a brotherhood and a sisterhood, we help our households,” Cleary mentioned. “They misplaced a father and a husband, it’s horrendous. … Inherently, the work we do is harmful.”
A wake might be held for Meyer Monday at Malec & Sons Funeral Residence, 6000 N. Milwaukee Ave. A non-public household visitation might be 1-3 p.m., and a public visitation will comply with from 3-8 p.m., in keeping with the fireplace division.
On Tuesday, a memorial service might be held at 10 a.m. at St. John Brebeuf Church, 8305 N. Harlem Ave. in Niles.
