Arson At Senior Center Leaves Man With Severe Burns: Bolingbrook PD

BOLINGBROOK, IL — A 21-year-old Bolingbrook man faces multiple felonies after police say he used bedding to intentionally set a fire that seriously injured another man at the Levy Senior Center, 251 Canterbury Lane.

According to police, offices found an active fire near the rear of the senior center at 1:13 a.m. Wednesday. Firefighters were called to the scene and extinguished the blaze as officials determined the fire was not naturally occurring and had been fueled by personal bedding.

A short time later, firefighters encountered a 35-year-old man with severe burns at Bolingbrook Fire Station 2. He was taken to an area hospital and was in stable condition, police said.

Officers determined the blaze and the man's injuries were the result of an intentional act and identified a person of interest. That man, identified as 21-year-old Turdor Ereba, of Fernwood Drive in Bolingbrook, was found and taken into custody.

"Over the last two days, our Investigations Division has reviewed all available evidence, conducted several interviews, and executed a search warrant as part of a comprehensive investigation," police said in a news release Thursday.

Ereba is charged with aggravated battery with a caustic substance, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, aggravated arson and arson.

He was taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility. An initial court appearance was scheduled for Friday morning, according to jail records.

Jail and court records also show that Ereba was arrested on charges of arson and criminal damage to property in late May.

Initially, police said there was a report of damage to property and a broken window at Little Caesars, 293 S. Bolingbrook Drive, on May 2. Bolingbrook police told Patch that weeks later, a remote security company contacted officials twice the morning of May 21 — at 1:05 a.m. and 5:42 a.m. — for reports of arson at Little Caesars. The first time, dispatch referenced a person breaking a window at the pizza restaurant and setting an item on fire. Hours later, BPD responded again to Little Caesars for a report of another arson and additional fire damage.

The next day, May 22, at 1:50 a.m., BPD responded to the Little Caesars for a report of a newly damaged window. Hours later, at 6:10 a.m., police said officers spotted Ereba walking near Little Caesar's, and he was identified as a suspect. He was taken into custody later that day, and police said he is a former employee of Little Caesars.

According to court records, prosecutors were granted a motion Friday to file a petition to revoke pretrial release in that case. A hearing on the petition to revoke pretrial release was scheduled. Court records show Ereba's next court date is July 30.