Man who ‘tried to set an entire train car on fire’ is ‘not a good candidate’ for electronic monitoring, judge rules

Man Detained After Allegedly Attempting to Set CTA Train on Fire

A Cook County judge has ordered the detention of Quentin Williams, 38, after he allegedly attempted to set a CTA Blue Line train on fire and threatened passengers with a box cutter. The judge deemed Williams “not a good candidate” for electronic monitoring due to the severity of the charges.

The incident took place on the Jackson Blue Line platform in the Loop on March 24, where Williams was reported to be threatening people with a knife. Despite the absence of victims or witnesses at the scene, a CTA employee identified Williams as the suspect, leading to his detention by CPD officers.

Prosecutors revealed that Williams has a prior felony conviction for stabbing a random individual in the leg with a box cutter on a CTA train, further highlighting his history of violent behavior.

During the investigation, CTA riders informed officers that Williams had set items on fire inside a train car. He ignited four packages of adult diapers and a cardboard Pampers box using a lighter before exiting the train. Fortunately, a vigilant passenger managed to extinguish the flames before they could escalate, with the assistance of a CTA train operator armed with a fire extinguisher.

Williams was captured on CTA surveillance cameras and a cell phone video committing the act. When questioned by officers, he reportedly justified his actions by claiming that he had been robbed on the train three weeks prior.

Upon reviewing the evidence and considering the potential danger posed by Williams, Judge Rivanda Doss Beal approved the state’s detention petition. Williams faces charges of attempted arson, criminal damage to property, and reckless conduct.

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