Beach Park, IL – Three men have been charged with felony arson after investigators determined a fire that heavily damaged a Beach Park bar earlier this month was intentionally set, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 5:55 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2026, to a structure fire at Social Pub, 37895 N. Sheridan Road, in Beach Park. The blaze caused catastrophic damage to the business. Investigators from the Beach Park Fire Department, the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the sheriff’s office concluded the fire was suspicious and had been intentionally set.
Authorities said detectives reviewed surveillance video from multiple locations, collected evidence, and conducted numerous interviews during the investigation. On Thursday, July 23, investigators located a vehicle believed to have been in the area when the fire started in the 900 block of Broadway Avenue in North Chicago and interviewed two individuals they believed were involved.
Detectives allege Fernando A. Mejia, 18, of North Chicago; Fulgencio Benites-Gaspar, 36, of North Chicago; and Estivent J. Mena-Ferrera, 21, of Waukegan were responsible for setting the fire. Investigators further allege Mejia and Benites-Gaspar were upset after being removed from the bar by staff several weeks earlier and developed a plan to set the business on fire.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved three counts of Class 2 felony arson against each defendant. All three remain in custody at the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing, and prosecutors intend to seek their continued detention while awaiting trial.
Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg praised detectives for their work, saying the investigation identified those allegedly responsible for a dangerous crime that put firefighters and the public at significant risk.
The charges are allegations, and all three defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
