A domestic dispute during the Thanksgiving holiday led to a house fire in Beach Park, Illinois, according to police reports.
Authorities have charged 21-year-old Erik J. Crump from Beach Park with arson after he allegedly ignited a fire in his bedroom. This incident followed a heated argument with his family, who reportedly informed him that he could no longer reside in the home.
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Lake County sheriff’s deputies were initially dispatched to the residence located in the 40100 block of North Lone Oak Road around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, in response to reports of a non-violent family disagreement.
Family members stated that Crump, who was living at the house, was involved in a verbal dispute with other residents.
The deputies managed to calm the situation during their visit.
However, just over an hour after the deputies left, emergency services were again summoned to the property, this time to tackle a fire.
A man matching Crump’s description was seen armed with a knife nearby, police said.
He was taken into custody at a storage facility in the 39400-block of North Lewis Avenue, police said.
The home sustained major damage in the fire.
Crump has been charged with aggravated arson and residential arson in the incident.
He was due in court Friday.
“It’s nothing short of a blessing that nobody was injured or killed in this senseless act. While families across Lake County were sitting down for Thanksgiving, our dispatchers were answering the call, and our deputies were out responding to them. Our team, along with our fire service partners, responded within minutes, secured the area, helped ensure the fire was extinguished, and took this individual into custody before anyone else was put at risk. I am incredibly proud of their professionalism and their commitment to keeping our community safe every hour of every day,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said in a statement.
