Man Who Allegedly Set Fire to a Homeless Man's Tent is a Former Chicago Cop: Report

NAPERVILLE, IL — The man who allegedly set fire to a Naperville man’s tent is a retired Chicago police sergeant.

James R. Povolo, 72, became a police officer in April 1972, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune. He retired in November 2006 as a sergeant.

Povolo, of the 1300 block of Dartford Court, turned himself in to police, according to DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin. He has been charged with one count of arson.

Police say at around 2 p.m. July 18, Povolo approached the tent, which he knew to be empty at the time, and set fire to it, resulting in the total destruction of the tent and its contents. An investigation led by the Naperville Police Department led to Povolo.

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