Midlothian Fires: Man Accused Of Setting 3 On 147th Street Within Hours

MIDLOTHIAN, IL -- A Midlothian man has been charged in a series of suspected arsons that occurred in the village in the early morning hours on Sunday.

Midlothian police confirmed the arrest of 53-year-old Joey Harold on Wednesday. Harold is accused of setting three suspicious fires in Midlothian on Sunday.

Midlothian Interim Police Chief Dan Delaney said police and fire units were first called to the 3400 block of W. 147th St. at 3:24 a.m. on Aug. 6 to a report of a dumpster fire, which was extinguished by the fire department within minutes.

Shortly after, they were called to the 3600 block of W. 147th St. for a report of a fire in an apartment building, where flames were spotted in the laundry room. The building was evacuated while firefighters put out the blaze, which caused no injuries according to Delaney.

Then, at 4 a.m., a Chrysler SUV vehicle was reported to be on fire in the parking lot of a dealership in the 3900 block of W. 147th St.

Harold was arrested on Tuesday after an investigation in which the Illinois State Police Fire Marshall assisted local units in determining all three fires were arson-related. He is charged with one count of felony aggravated arson and two counts of felony arson, according to police.

Photo: Joey Harold / via Midlothian Police Department