Buffalo Grove resident charged with arson, accused of setting fire to his home with family inside – Cardinal News

Crime scene of a house fire in Buffalo Grove where a family member was charged with aggravated arson for allegedly setting a house fire while his family members were inside the home on Thursday evening, September 19, 2024 (CARDINAL NEWS). YouTube Tips ⓘ

Buffalo Grove police officers arrested a young Buffalo Grove man on Thursday evening, September 19, 2024, just over 24 hours after firefighters were called to a fire at his home in the 900 block of Lucinda Drive, south of the Fitness Center at Buffalo Grove Park and Mike Rylko Park.

Buffalo Grove police, firefighters and paramedics responded to a report of smoke in the attic of a two-story home with black smoke coming from it at approximately 7:16 p.m. on Thursday, September 19, 2024. There was also a report that two children were inside the home and that pets were inside the home. The fire alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 “working fire” at approximately 7:19 p.m.

All residents were safely evacuated from the home. When Buffalo Grove firefighters arrived, they reported smoke coming from the rear of the home, the second floor, and the attic. Firefighters reported that it appeared everyone had gotten out of the home safely.

At around 7:31 p.m. the fire was declared under control.

Police on the scene identified the address as the crime scene and were aware that an individual named Evan Rude with a criminal record lived at the home's address. Evan Rude's criminal history included an incident involving a suspicious fire in September 2023 at the same home and a separate false call to 9-1-1 reporting that a child was seen swimming in a pond in Buffalo Grove and apparently in danger in February 2024. The false 9-1-1 report led to a multi-hour underwater search involving fire departments using SONAR scanning equipment. In 2022, Evan Rude was charged with reckless conduct/assault for an incident that occurred on July 22, 2022, according to Lake County District Court records. Evan Rude was placed on probation with special conditions, fined, and ordered to comply with a protective order.

After the fire was extinguished on Thursday evening, September 19, 2024, Evan Rude told CARDINAL NEWS at the scene of the fire while standing across the street from his home that “remodeling work was being done on his house.” He also warned of a hornet's nest in a tree on a low-hanging branch nearby. A few minutes later, Evan Rude was seen hunched over and choking on the green area across from his house. Police officers assisted him. Later Thursday evening, one person was taken from the scene of the fire to a nearby hospital. It was not initially confirmed if Evan Rude was the patient taken to the hospital.

On Friday, September 20, 2024, Evan Rude was taken into custody and charged with…

Aggravated arson in the presence of known persons (a Class X felony)

Arson in a residential building (a Class 1 felony)

Arson of property (a collective crime)

Evan Rude was admitted to the Lake County Adult Corrections Facility in Waukegan at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, September 20, 2024.

Evan Rude's first appearance was on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. His next scheduled hearing is a detention hearing on Monday, September 23, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.

Just over a year ago, Evan Rude was accused of setting a fire that destroyed a car in the attached garage of the same home on Lucinda Drive in Buffalo Grove. He allegedly went and reported the fire to police officers in charge of Buffalo Grove Days. The 5-day festival (8/31/23 – 9/4/23) at Mike Rylko Community Park was taking place directly across Route 83 from the fire scene. Firefighters on call for Buffalo Grove Days were also nearby and were able to respond very quickly to the reported fire.

Buffalo Grove police, fire and paramedics responded to a reported vehicle fire and garage fire on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at approximately 9:15 p.m. in the 900 block of Lucinda Drive in Buffalo Grove.

Evan Rude initially reported a car fire, then reported that the garage might also be on fire. The first crew to arrive reported a two-story home with a car fire in the adjacent garage. Although firefighters from neighboring communities were also dispatched to the possible house fire, the Buffalo Grove Fire Department on scene immediately limited response equipment and crews to Buffalo Grove units.

At 9:19 p.m. the fire was declared extinguished and Buffalo Grove Fire Investigators and the Illinois State Fire Marshal were called to the scene.

Investigators discovered video surveillance images that allegedly show Evan Rude, then 23, of Buffalo Grove, walking up to the vehicle parked in the garage and lighting a lighter. The video also allegedly shows Rude walking away from the vehicle, from which new flames are emanating. Evan Rude is 5'10″ tall and weighs 165 pounds.

According to court records, Evan Rude was charged with criminal damage to property ($500-$10,000). Arson was not a charge. Rude was arrested and released on Sunday, September 3, 2023. Evan Rude was taken into custody on $25,000 bail and released on September 3, 2023 after a relative posted 10% of the bail ($2,500). Evan Rude was present at the bail hearing. In November 2023, the plaintiff (People vs Rude) withdrew the prosecution related to the suspicious garage fire.

Regarding the false 9-1-1 charge reporting a child in danger in the water at Green Lake Park on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, a charge of False Alarm/Ambulance 720 ILCS 5/26-1(a)(9) filed on February 20, 2024 was dismissed and a charge of Disorderly Conduct was filed on February 22, 2024. The case is active and the latest activity is a case management conference scheduled for September 24, 2024.

Regarding Evan Rude's reckless conduct charge, which occurred on July 22, 2022, in Buffalo Grove, Rude and his attorney, David Smith, withdrew their plea of ​​not guilty, and Evan Rude was found guilty of reckless conduct on April 20, 2023. Evan Rude served 18 months of probation, according to Lake County court records.

RELATED NEWS…

CARDINAL NEWS | Buffalo Grove resident charged with false report that sparked underwater search for child in Green Lake Park

CARDINAL NEWS | Buffalo Grove resident accused of setting fire to his mother's car parked in the garage

Stay up to date with news from The Cardinal's Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page – Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to popular emergency responders and product manufacturers, as well as safety companies that have Facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up to date with photo galleries from fire, emergency medical services, EMS and police. For a list of all of The Cardinal's Facebook fan pages, visit Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook…