PILSEN — In hopes of finding the person responsible for a series of devastating arsons in Pilsen last month, Chicago Police released new surveillance video Friday.
Arson detectives seek to identify or speak to the individual pictured in the video footage regarding a series of arsons that occurred in alleyways in the 12th and 10th Districts in Pilsen and Heart of Chicago.
The videos show a man riding a bike from two different angles but do not appear to show anyone starting the fires.
The person is described as a man, possibly white or Hispanic, 5-foot-10 or taller and about 180 pounds, wearing a baseball cap, long-sleeve soiled shirt and red knee-high shorts, according to police. The man was seen riding a bicycle, police said.
Police now say that six fires occurred between 2:45 a.m. and 3:20 a.m. Sept. 16. Earlier, police indicated that seven arsons occurred in that timeframe.
Earlier this week, Near West Police Cmdr. Ed Kulbida said investigators the fires were set blocks apart by one person with "a mental problem."
"This is a person who likes to watch fires," Kulbida said.
Around 3 a.m. Sept. 16, nearly 100 firefighters and police responded to calls of separate fires around Pilsen and Heart of Chicago. The blazes left one man dead and 25 people displaced in Pilsen.
In these incidents, someone ignited materials in garbage cans or items left in the alley. In some cases, the fire spread to garages or homes, police said.
If anyone talked to this subject near the 2100 block of South Paulina Street or can identify him, please contact Arson Detectives at 312-746-7618.
[Chicago Police Department]
[Chicago Police Department]
How you can help
• To help the families in their time of need, Allison Manasse, a counselor at Whittier Elementary launched a GoFundMe campaign online. Five of the families displaced by the Friday fires have children who attend Whittier Elementary School in Pilsen.
The campaign aims to raise $60,000 for the affected families and has raised $16,100 to date.
• Another GoFundMe campaign aims to help Venancio Veracruz Benitez's family with his burial. The campaign aims to raise $5,000 and has raised $1,030 to date.
• A third GoFundMe campaign aims to help the Beltran family get back on their feet. The campaign aims to raise $40,000 and has raised $1,300 to date.
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