The person charged with homicide and arson within the dying of Chicago Fireplace Division Capt. David Meyer “positioned everybody within the space in peril that evening,” a choose stated Saturday through the suspect’s detention listening to in a courtroom full of 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 fees, Chicago police stated. 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 stated. “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 have been Chicago Fireplace 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 seem seconds later, prosecutors stated. 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 stated as no less than one firefighter’s head fell into his fingers at the back of 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 digital camera carrying — which preliminary assessments confirmed had accelerants nonetheless on them — although he denied involvement within the fireplace on the time, in accordance with prosecutors. The Workplace of Fireplace Investigation, assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, stated the fireplace was from ignition of contents in a trash bin “by human motion.”
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 seem, in accordance with prosecutors. He’ll seem in court docket for the retail theft April 28, a day earlier than he’s set to seem in court docket once more on the arson and homicide fees.
After the listening to, Patrick Cleary, president of the Chicago Firefighters Union, stated Inexperienced’s historical past and the proof confirmed why he must be detained. He stated he had spoken to Meyer’s household on the hospital, who have been “damaged up” about their loss.
“We’re a brotherhood and a sisterhood, we help our households,” Cleary stated. “They misplaced a father and a husband, it’s horrendous. … Inherently, the work we do is harmful.”
A wake shall be held for Meyer Monday at Malec & Sons Funeral Dwelling, 6000 N. Milwaukee Ave. A non-public household visitation shall be 1-3 p.m., and a public visitation will comply with from 3-8 p.m., in accordance with the fireplace division.
On Tuesday, a memorial service shall be held at 10 a.m. at St. John Brebeuf Church, 8305 N. Harlem Ave. in Niles.
Contributing: Mohammad Samra
