Daniel Nieves, 23, Charged With Arson After Police Say He Admitted To Setting Fire At Mallers Building On Jewelers Row
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A man was charged with aggravated arson Sunday after police said he admitted to starting a fire in the Mallers Building on Jewelers Row downtown.
Daniel Nieves, 23, of the Belmont Cragin neighborhood, turned himself in at the Grand Central (25th) District police station around 2:15 p.m. Sunday, police said.
He admitted that he started the fire in the Mallers Building at Wabash Avenue and Madison Street, which broke out just after 4 a.m. Thursday, police said.
The fire started on the 10th floor of the 23-story building, which houses 180 jewelry shops.
Two firefighters suffered heat exhaustion and were taken to a local hospital while fighting the fire.
The day after the fire, security manager Leonard Norah said a suspect was caught on camera. The video showed the suspect entering the building around 2:15 a.m. Thursday and checking in with security.
"She asked the gentleman to sign in," Norah told CBS 2's Jeremy Ross on Friday. "It was a false name. He goes up to the 10th floor.
There was also a fire at the Mallers Building in 2018. That fire gutted the fourth floor.
Also From CBS Chicago:
- Sources: Former Police Supt. Eddie Johnson Pushed His Wife Away When She Tried To Stop Him From Burning Her Underwear
- Scammers Hustle Way Into 93-Year-Old Steger Woman's House, But Her Son Is Watching It All On Camera
- Chicago's Mayor Puts Out New COVID Stay At Home Advisory, More Restrictions Based On Case Surge Throughout The City