Man, 18, Charged With Arson for Mattress Fire

A Barrington man, 18, has been charged with arson for starting a mattress on fire in the bedroom of a home at 20 Bullock Ave. on Thursday, Jan. 16. 

Nicholas Zimmerman, of 20 Bullock Ave., allegedly poured rubbing alcohol on his bed and then lit the mattress on fire around 12 pm, according to Barrington Police Chief John LaCross.

Zimmerman also was charged with domestic simple assault for pushing his bedroom door into the face of his mother when she tried to enter the room, LaCross said.

The case is still under investigation, said the police chief. But the young man has been charged with intentionally setting the fire within the home, he said.

Police officers responded around 12:15 pm after a 911 hang-up call during which yelling and screaming could be heard, said LaCross. They used fire extinguishers to subdue the blaze, which damaged a mattress, box spring, some clothing and some books in the bedroom. The young man was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation.

Firefighters arrived shortly after the police officers and took the mattress, box spring and clothing outside to be doused completely. They also vented dense smoke from the bedroom.

The young man’s mother reportedly suffered injuries to her face, which police officers observed to be bloody and swollen. Some type of altercation is believed to have occurred between them, LaCross said.