Authorities: Man set his car on fire after running out of gas

A Waukegan man was charged with setting his own car on fire in Beach Park after he became upset that it ran out of gas while he was driving on Kenosha Road, Lake County sheriff's officials said Monday.

Leonard H. Peters Jr., 21, of the 2100 block of Williamsburg Drive, is charged with one count of arson and is being held in Lake County jail on $10,000 bail. He must pay 10 percent of that amount, or $1,000, to be released on bond. His next court date is June 5.

Sheriff's deputies were sent to North Kenosha Road and Green Bay Road about 10 p.m. Saturday for a report of a vehicle fire. Deputies found a 2018 Kia Optima engulfed in flames on Kenosha Road.

The Winthrop Harbor Fire Department extinguished the fire.

Deputies found the fire to be suspicious, as they located a melted plastic fuel container near the vehicle. They spoke to Peters, who initially said he believed his car must have been stolen while he was attending a house party in North Chicago and that he had no knowledge of the fire, authorities said.

Peters later told police he was angered by the car's frequent breakdowns and became upset when it ran out of gas, so he set it on fire, authorities said.