$50K bond for Mokena man charged with arson in Orland Park fire
Sun-Times Media April 18, 2012 11:42AM
Updated: April 18, 2012 6:44PM
Bond has been set at $50,000 for a Mokena man who is charged with arson for setting fire last week to an abandoned building in Orland Park.
Keith Ukso, 22, of the 19300 block of 116th Avenue in Mokena was charged with one count of arson after setting fire last Friday to an abandoned building on the 11200 block of West 159th Avenue in Orland Park, a release from the Cook County Sheriff’s office said.
On Friday, April 13, Cook County Sheriff’s Police responded to the scene after being notified by the Orland Park Fire Department, the release said. After interviewing several witnesses who had come forward in the investigation, it was determined that Ukso was seen fleeing the area and may have had additional information.
When detectives interviewed Ukso, he admitted that he had entered the abandoned building and lit a piece of cardboard on fire, with the intention of starting a fire, the sheriff’s office said. The fire continued to spread and Ukso fled the scene as the entire building became engulfed in flames.
It took firefighters just over an hour to douse the flames at the house. “When we got there, the fire was through the roof. There were some heavy fire conditions,” acting Fire Chief Raymond Kay said.
The house had been vacant about 15 years, he said. No injuries were reported and Sheriff’s detectives were able to secure a verbal and written statement by Ukso admitting his involvement.
Ukso’s next court date is scheduled for May 8 in Bridgeview.
