Man Arrested In Connection To Orland Square Car Fire: Police

ORLAND PARK, IL -- Orland Park police have joined in the investigation of four vehicles that caught fire Wednesday in the Orland Square Mall parking lot. James Franklin Miller III, 34, was charged with obstructing a police officer and resisting a police officer, both misdemeanors. Police said Miller was the owner of one of the vehicles that was on fire.

Around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Orland Fire Protection District received a call of vehicles on fire in the lower-level Sears parking lot at Orland Square. Firefighters arrived to find one of the cars fully consumed by flames. Three other vehicles had also caught on fire. The fire was struck in about ten minutes and was confined to four vehicles. There were no injuries.

Orland Park police went to assist the firefighters. Officers encountered a man, later identified as Miller, who had been inside the vehicle the initially started the fire, police said. When officers went to interview him, police said Miller became uncooperative and tried to walk away. Miller allegedly resisted when police tried to stop him from leaving. Officers were able to detain and arrest Miller, police said.

Commander Anthony Farrell, of the Orland Park Police Department, said that police detectives believe the fire is accidental in nature. There were no injuries reported.

Fire photos courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District.