Man accused of setting Emerson-Garfield apartment fire

A fire last week in the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood was caused by a man who deliberately set his furniture on fire after locking himself in his apartment, police say. Jose A. Jauregui, 41, faces a first degree arson charge for allegedly setting the blaze at 1006 W. Mansfield Ave. on Aug. 18. Two witnesses told police they were hanging out in Jauregui’s apartment around 3:30 a.m. listening to music and using the computer, according to court documents. Just before 4 a.m. Jauregui woke up and started screaming at them to get out of his apartment, they told police. He also tried to spray them with a flammable liquid, one witness said. The witnesses said Jauregui told them, “This place will burn down” and “I’m going to make an inferno.” Both left the apartment and heard the fire alarms go off shortly after. The firefighter who responded found Jaregui barricaded in his apartment and had to use a fire ax to open the door, court documents say. He found a couch and two end tables on fire in front of the door. Jaregui was treated for smoke inhalation at the hospital and refused to answer police questions, court documents say. His bond was set at $10,000 during a brief court appearance Wednesday. His defense attorney said Jauregui has mental health and substance abuse issues. He also faces an animal cruelty charge, though court documents do not mention any animals in the apartment.