Chicago man used lighter to set fire to garbage cans in downtown Elgin, prosecutors say

By Amarion Weathersby
FOX 32 Chicago
Published June 9, 2026 11:05 AM CDT
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The Brief

    • A Chicago man was arrested for allegedly setting fire to garbage cans in Elgin last week.
    • Prosecutors charged the suspect with 12 felony counts, including arson.
    • The suspect was denied release and remains in jail custody ahead of a court hearing Friday.

ELGIN, Ill. - A Chicago man is accused of setting fire to several garbage cans in downtown Elgin, according to Kane County prosecutors.

What we know:

Elgin officers responded about 2:15 a.m. last Thursday to reports of a dumpster fire in the 0-100 block of Douglas Avenue.

Prosecutors said 27-year-old David Rosales used a standard lighter to set fire to the trash cans.

David Rosales

The cans were set on fire in the following locations:

  • Chicago Street and Riverside Drive
  • Chicago Street and Grove Avenue
  • Symphony Way and North Spring Street
  • Spring Street and Division Street
  • 100 West Chicago Street

Rosales has been charged with 12 felonies:

  • Arson (5 counts)
  • Criminal Damage to Government Property (6 counts)
  • Criminal Damage with Fire (1 count)

What we don't know:

It remains unclear why Rosales allegedly started the fires.

What's next:

Rosales appeared in court for a pretrial detention hearing last week and was denied release. He will remain in Kane County Jail custody until his next court appearance, set for this Friday.

The Source: The information in this story came from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office.

Crime and Public SafetyElginNews