Chicago Heights Man Lit Fires Inside Store To Distract From Theft

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — A Chicago Heights man has been arrested in connection with a series of small fires in Highland, Indiana last week, police said.

According to officials, 35-year-old Jerry Pierson set three small fires in order to cover for himself and a woman while they stole a TV, speaker set and vacuum from a Meijer store on Jan. 10.

Pierson told police he barely knew the woman who he is accused of stealing the items with. Officials believe the pair are also connected to a fire at a Lansing Walmart on Jan. 7.

According to court documents, a woman went into the Meijer at around 8:40 a.m. Jan. 10 and was followed five minutes later by Pierson. The woman told an employee that a man was setting fires in the other part of the store and, when the employee ran off after the fires, put a Vizio TV and sound bar in her cart and left the store.

The man was then seen stealing the vacuum and later loading the stolen items into a car with the woman, court records stated. Security footage from the store allowed police to identify the woman, though she is not named in Pierson's court case.

In total, three fires were set inside the store. Investigators found butane and fertilizer near the largest fire. Toys and other flammable merchandise were set on fire in other corners of the store.

Police arrested Pierson Tuesday and charged him with arson, organized theft and theft. He is currently awaiting trial in a Lansing jail where he is being held without bail.