Des Plaines man arrested in apartment bombing

Des Plaines police this week arrested a 33-year-old man responsible for setting off an explosive device that injured three men at a Des Plaines apartment complex on Jan. 16, police said.

Richard Bilik, of the 1700 block of South White Street in Des Plaines, faces charges of aggravated arson, residential arson, possession of explosives, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and unlawful use of a weapon - all felonies.

The explosion occurred at around 11:10 p.m. Police found an improvised explosive device had been placed at the entry door of a unit in the 1700 block of East Oakton Street.

One occupant of the apartment was treated for minor injuries at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and released. Two men, including the owner of the apartment, were treated at the scene.

"It was a very large explosive device, did substantial damage to the entryway to the apartment," Des Plaines Police Deputy Chief Richard Rozkuszka said.

Debris was scattered about 100 feet out and the interior of the apartment and windows of nearby apartments were damaged, he said.

He said police don't know the motive, but Bilik did have phone contact with the victims before the explosion. Bilik has not made any statements to police, Rozkuszka said.

The investigation was jointly conducted by Des Plaines detectives, the Cook County bomb squad and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Bilik, who was arrested Jan. 26, has long rap sheet mostly involving burglaries, and was on parole. His next court date is at Feb. 19 in Skokie.