CHICAGO (WLS) — A Rogers Park resident said he called police the night before a deadly apartment fire, but they never came. He now wonders if a response could have prevented the blaze and tragic death of a Chicago firefighter. Damon McElroy told the ABC7 I-Team he called 911, asking for help after hearing screaming and threats from the man now accused of arson and the murder of Chicago Firefighter Michael Altman, but he said police never followed up until after the fire and Altman’s death. “I called police for a noise complaint because he wouldn’t stop screaming. He went from screaming to third floor, second floor first into the ground, and just wouldn’t stop screaming. And he was screaming upward so we can hear him,” McElroy said. He said called police on Sunday, March 15 around 10: 30 p. m. after he said he heard Sheaves Slate screaming and making threats at 1757 W. North Shore in Rogers Park, saying “You’re going to pay for this, you’re going to pay for this.” Slate is now charged with arson and the murder of Altman and was ordered detained in court this week after prosecutors say early the next morning he intentionally lit a mattress on fire in the basement setting the building ablaze. Altman fell through the first floor into the basement while battling that fire, later dying from his injuries. McElroy is left wondering if more could have been done. “Is doing the right thing good enough anymore? What’s the point of calling for help if there isn’t going to be any?” McElroy said. He said after his initial call to police when no one responded, he called back about 15 minutes later to tell them he believed Slate had left the premises, but according to court documents, Slate had not, and he was caught on a Ring doorbell camera still in the building around 11 p. m. “‘Do a wellness check at least. Because you know that screaming could have turned into, as you can see, something more. It could be turned violent. You know, there could be a victim or something you don’t, you don’t know,” McElroy said. Prosecutors said Slate had an outstanding warrant after failing to present himself at court for previous arrests. McElroy voicing his concerns about building security claiming, “He wasn’t on the lease. He didn’t live there. He was squatting there.” On the day of Firefighter Altman’s visitation Thursday, McElroy told the I-Team he is still conflicted about the police response. READ MORE | Funeral postponed for Chicago firefighter Michael Altman after widow gives birth; visitation Thursday “They could have done something, because, like, if you can’t see that a life is lost and people are hurting because they lost their family member, I don’t know what to tell you,” McElroy said. The I-Team reached out to Chicago police about their response to McElroy’s call. They only said there are no updates, there is no further information at this time. The property management company for the building, Fulton Grace, said they acted earlier this month to remove Slate from the building after learning he was there unaccompanied but had no additional notifications from residents about security issues or trespassers.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/questions-raised-chicago-police-response-night-before-arson-death-firefighter-michael-altman-rogers-park/18783202/