Police Blotter: Charges filed against Plainfield man in repeated 2007 fires
October 30, 2012 10:10PM
Updated: December 1, 2012 4:27PM
Kendall County sheriff’s deputies believe a 29-year-old Plainfield man was responsible for at least one of three fires that occurred at an Oswego home in 2007.
This week, the sheriff’s office charged Keenan W. Slagel, of the 24000 block of Caton Farm Road, with felony arson.
Police charged Slagel with starting a fire at a home in the first block of Winding Creek Road, near Oswego, on April 21, 2007. Firefighters were called to the same home for fires on March 31, 2007, and Oct. 11, 2007. The sheriff’s office said all three fires were determined to be arson.
According to Kendall County Deputy Bryan Harl, the house was a large home and the total damages from the three fires was more than $2 million. The fires caused extensive damage to the home, which was eventually rebuilt. The fires started to occur shortly after the house was bought by new owners, police said. Harl did not say how the fires were started. No one was injured in any of the incidents.
In 2012, the sheriff’s office received a tip that Slagel may have been involved in starting at least one of the fires. Police said Slagel was not related to the new homeowners, but they would not comment on a motive. As of Tuesday, police had only charged Slagel with starting the April 2007 fire, but Harl said they are not looking for suspects in the other two fires.
Slagel was arrested Monday at his home. He was being held at the Kendall County jail in Yorkville on Tuesday night on $500,000 bail.
In other police news:
Alex Fuentes: 53, of 4111 W. Cornelia Ave., Chicago, was arrested by sheriff’s police and booked into the county jail Oct. 23 on a charge of driving on a suspended license.
James O. Williams: 23, of 2400 Durness Court, Crest Hill, was arrested by sheriff’s police and booked into the county jail Oct. 23 on a charge of driving on a suspended license.
Rufino Bravo: 51, of 470 E. Altgeld Ave., Glendale Heights, was arrested by sheriff’s police and booked into the county jail Oct. 24 on charges of driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured vehicle.
Nicholas K. Gregory: 18, of 1817 Hickory St., Crest Hill, was arrested by Joliet police and booked into the county jail Oct. 24 on a charge of burglary.
Eric V. Figueroa: 21, of 415 Peale St., Joliet, was arrested by state police and booked into the county jail Oct. 24 on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and driving on a suspended license.
James E. Askew: 56, of 358 N. Broadway, Joliet, was arrested by Joliet police and booked into the county jail Oct. 24 on a charge of theft.
Ivory D. Blackwell: 20, of 1122 Holmes Ave., Joliet, and Bryson L. Carter, 18, of 206 Iowa Ave., Joliet, were arrested by New Lenox police and booked into the county jail Oct. 24 on charges of shoplifting.
Michael C. Guerra: 39, of Holt, Mich., was arrested by sheriff’s police and booked into the county jail Oct. 24 on a charge of mob action.
Jaime Briceno: 17, of 605 Dover St., Joliet, was arrested and booked into the county jail Oct. 24 on a charge of burglary.
Karen L. Louis: 50, of 5588 W. 175th St., Tinley Park, was arrested by Frankfort police and booked into the county jail Oct. 24 on a charge of theft.
