A man from Edgewater has admitted guilt in an attempted arson case and received a mental health probation sentence, following allegations of him throwing a Molotov cocktail into a dumpster at a charter school while in disguise, as per court documents.
Authorities observed Benjamin Scheie, aged 62, on a morning in July of the previous year. He had been stopped before, held a concealed carry license, and was seen with a firearm in his waistband, according to a report by the Chicago Police Department (CPD). Prosecutors noted that he was seen removing a Molotov cocktail from his car trunk, carrying it to the Horizon Science Academy located at 4434 North Laramie Avenue, and placing it in a dumpster, aware of nearby individuals. Police reported that the dumpster emitted a strong gasoline odor.
As Scheie fled east on Sunnyside Avenue, he allegedly discarded his disguise, which included a wig, fake beard, glasses, and a blue button-up shirt, hiding them in a planter, as stated by CPD.
The CPD bomb squad was called in to secure the explosive device and Scheie’s vehicle, which was reportedly left running with windows down and two additional firearms inside.
Scheie was indicted by a grand jury on charges of attempted aggravated arson with people present, possession of an explosive or incendiary device, and bringing a concealed firearm onto school premises. He confessed to the attempted aggravated arson charge in exchange for a sentence of mental health probation, as ordered by Cook County Judge Anjana Hansen, according to court records.
Judge Hansen mandated that Scheie provide a DNA sample for law enforcement records and adhere to standard probation requirements, which include undergoing a mental health assessment and completing any necessary treatment.
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