Man Removed Books From A Free Book Exchange Box, Set Them On Fire: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — In one of the most unusual arrests made by the Joliet police force in May, 38-year-old Danville resident Robert Skoglund was arrested in connection with a series of fires being set near the 100 block of Mills Road.

Skoglund was booked into the Will County Jail for a total of three days, May 21-23, on charges of reckless conduct, obstructing justice and resisting a peace officer.

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The criminal complaint states that Skoglund recklessly set paper on fire that endangered the safety of the occupants at or near the Nowell Park Recreation Center in Joliet. The disorderly conduct charge indicates that Skoglund was banging on the window of an unoccupied vehicle in such an unreasonable manner that he was alarming or disturbing a woman. The resisting a peace officer charge alleges that Skoglund resisted arrest by running away from Officer Bryson McCaskill after being told he was not free to leave.

According to Joliet police spokesman Tizoc Landeros, at approximately 6:30 p.m. on May 21, officers were dispatched to the area of the 100 block of Mills Road
regarding someone causing a disturbance.

The officers saw a person matching the description provided by dispatch, who was later identified as Skoglund. According to police, officers saw Skoglund lighting paper on fire in a grassy area and also saw a garbage can that was on fire.

According to Landeros, Skoglund ignored the officers’ commands and began walking away from them before
eventually trying to scamper off.

Skoglund was apprehended a short time later. Police say he refused to identify himself to officers and was transported to
the Joliet Police Booking area.

Witnesses told officers that Skoglund had removed books from a free book exchange box and set them on
fire, Landeros revealed.

Skoglund was later identified through his fingerprints. He was processed and subsequently transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility without incident.