Joliet Police Arrest Suspect in February Arson Fire
John Welsh (43, Joliet) was arrested, processed, and transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility for Aggravated Arson, Arson, and Criminal Damage to Property (2 Counts).
On February 19, 2024, at 8:55 a.m., an Officer on patrol near Oneida Street and Springfield Avenue observed smoke coming from Fentons Motel (2305 West Jefferson Street). Upon arrival, the Officer observed that a guest room was fully engulfed in flames and they immediate began evacuating guests from other rooms. The Joliet Fire Department arrived and successfully extinguished the fire.
It was determined that the room had been rented by a male (45, University Park) who indicated that he was awoken by the fire at which time he then exited the room and notified staff.
The male sustained burns to his legs and right hand and was transported to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department.
During the course of this investigation, Officers identified Welsh as a suspect in this case. It was learned that Welsh was staying in a room next to the room that had sustained the fire. Detectives developed information through interviews and video surveillance that determined Welsh was responsible for causing the fire to the guest room and they obtained an arrest warrant on July 3, 2024, for Aggravated Arson, Arson, and Criminal Damage to Property (2 Counts).
Welsh was taken into custody without incident on July 8, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. after he was observed in the 1900 block of Mystic Lane. Welsh was transported to the Joliet Police Department where he was questioned and eventually transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.
DISCLAIMER: Arrest records are public information. An arrest does not mean that the individual(s)identified has been convicted of a crime. All persons arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.