Witnesses contradict police, say man tried to set himself on fire on Red Line train

FOX 32/SUN-TIMES MEDIA WIRE - A man was taken into custody Thursday night after setting a fire aboard a CTA Red Line train that stopped in the Uptown neighborhood on the North Side.

There's contradicting reports, though. Police say the man lit a book bag on fire on the train. However, witnesses say a man tried to light himself on fire.

Police do confirm that the man was splashing some type of liquid around on the train prior to starting the fire.

Firefighters responded about 5:15 p.m. to the Red Line train after it was stopped at the Argyle station at 1118 W. Argyle, according to the Chicago Police and Fire departments.

No passengers were injured.

The male, whose age was not immediately known, was taken to Weiss Memorial Hospital for treatment, police said.

A CTA employee was also taken to Weiss to receive treatment for smoke inhalation, police said. The employee’s condition stabilized.

A police officer was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries unrelated to the fire, police said.