CHICAGO (WLS) — Prosecutors revealed new details in court on Saturday about a North Side fire that led to the death of a Chicago firefighter this week.
Sheaves Slate, the Chicago man who allegedly set the fire, has been hospitalized, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said, and he did not appear at Saturday’s hearing. The reason for his hospitalization was not immediately known.
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Slate, 27, is facing murder and arson charges in connection with a Rogers Park fire that he allegedly started on Monday morning.
Prosecutors allege Slate was squatting in a building in the 1700-block of West North Shore Avenue, and he started a fire in the basement after arguing with two tenants.
While battling the blaze, Chicago Fire Department firefighter Michael Altman fell from the building’s first floor, which collapsed, and into the basement around 11:30 a.m. Monday.
The 32-year-old CFD EMT died from his injuries on Tuesday.
Slate was later arrested in the 800-block of West Irving Park Road on Wednesday.
The ABC7 I-Team learned that Slate also has a history of drug and retail theft charges.
Officials in court on Saturday said Slate recently failed to appear for a hearing in connection with a retail theft case, and he was already on suspension in connection with another retail theft case.
At Saturday’s hearing, Slate was ordered detained pending his detention hearing, which is now set for Monday morning.
This comes as the community continues to support the Altman family.
Members of the public lined the streets to pay their respects as Altman’s body was taken from the medical examiner’s office to an Oak Lawn funeral home on Friday.
Altman, a fourth-generation CFD firefighter, was a husband, and a father to a young child. His wife is pregnant with their second child.
Reilly’s Daughter, an Oak Lawn bar, is selling $25 t-shirts, with all of the proceeds going to the Altman family.
And at the United Center on Friday, the Chicago Blackhawks and fans took a moment of silence to honor Altman.
Altman’s funeral is set for Friday at Saint Rita of Cascia at 10 a.m. The visitation is scheduled for Thursday, from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m., at the same location.
ABC7 will have live coverage of Altman’s funeral on our air and wherever you stream on Friday morning.
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