Fired Man Sets Fires Outside Ex-Boss's Business Near Antioch: Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A bad day for a local man turned even worse when he decided to set fire to items outside the automotive business where he was fired hours earlier, authorities said.

Jonathan V. Tracy, 31, of the 0 to 100 block of Maude Avenue in Fox Lake, now faces an arson charge in connection to allegations he started a motorcycle on fire in the parking lot area of the business in the 255000 block of Route 173 in unincorporated Antioch at about 11:50 p.m. Tuesday.

When deputies arrived, they found Tracy, who had just set the motorcycle on fire, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. The motorcycle was fully engulfed in flames.

Police said Tracy, who'd been fired earlier in the day from the automotive business, appeared to be irate and was shouting that he wanted to speak to his former boss.

He was setting the fires — and using gasoline and oil to spread the blazes — "in an attempt to lure his former boss to the scene," police said. Authorities say Tracy wanted more of an explanation from his boss as to why he was fired.

Christopher Covelli, deputy chief with the Lake County Sheriff's Office, told Patch Tracy's former boss does not live far from his business.

"We believe Tracy thought someone would call him to the scene, or he would be able to see the activity through video surveillance," he said.

Deputies arrested Tracy, and the Antioch Fire Protection District put out the fires.

Tracy remains in custody at the Lake County Jail and is expected to make an initial court appearance Wednesday morning.