Chicago man arrested for allegedly lighting Halloween display on fire, decapitating other decorations
10/25/2023 2:41 pm PDT
CHICAGO (TCD) -- Police arrested a 34-year-old man this week for allegedly lighting local Halloween displays on fire and decapitating other ones.
A slew of Halloween decoration-related arsons had been occurring in the area since Oct. 4, according to Chicago Police. Of the eight incidents, half were reported within a few blocks of each other on Lincoln Avenue. Police said the suspect "ignited several sidewalk autumn/Halloween displays and street corner garbage cans."
All the instances reportedly occurred between 1:50 a.m. and 4:13 a.m.
Three of the fires reportedly involved decorations that had been placed on front porches. One fire broke out Oct. 11 at 3:10 a.m. on the 2100 block of West Agatite Avenue, while a second occurred the same day at 3:43 a.m. on the 2200 block of West Roscoe Street. On Oct. 16, at 3:27 a.m., there was a fire at a home on the 3600 block of North Hoyne Avenue, which sustained damage from the flames, but no one was injured.
On Tuesday, Oct. 24, Chicago Police officers took Mario Munoz into custody on the 3900 block of West Fullerton Avenue for his alleged involvements in the fires on West Roscoe Street and an Oct. 12 incident on the 4100 block of Maplewood Avenue.
Munoz was arrested on one felony count of arson and one misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.
According to CBS Chicago, Ring doorbell video allegedly showed Munoz beheading a large decoration outside the Maplewood Avenue residence. Additionally, two scarecrows in a "Scarecrow Showdown" competition were incinerated.
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