Charges were filed Wednesday against the owner of a vacant building that collapsed one year ago and killed two Chicago firefighters.
Chuck Dai, of South Holland, faces criminal contempt of court action after he allegedly failed to comply with court orders to address his building's 14 previous code violations and secure the property, ABC Chicago reports.
The charge was announced one day short of the one-year anniversary of the deaths of Corey Ankum and Edward Stringer, two Chicago firefighters who died after the roof of the building abruptly collapsed while they battled the blaze.
Fourteen other firefighters were injured while attempting to put out the Dec. 22 fire at 1738-1744 E. 75th St. in Chicago, one of the city's deadliest fires in recent memory.
(Scroll down to watch a video report on the charge.)
Anita Alvarez, Cook County State's Attorney, said in a statement announcing the charge that "given this tragic series of events and the grave circumstances of the loss of two first responding firefighters, we feel very strongly that a criminal sanction is required and is appropriate in this case."
"With the extensive amount of vacant and abandoned buildings as well as foreclosed properties in our communities right now, this action should also send an important message to property owners that they have a legal and a civic responsibility to maintain their property in a safe and responsible fashion," Alvarez continued.
Her office is reportedly working with the city's Law Department to explore the possibility of mounting criminal action against the owner beyond filing a petition for contempt of court.
Stringer's brother, Michael Torres, told the Chicago Tribune that he agreed that criminal charges should be filed against both Chuck and and Richard Dai, another owner of the building.
"I believe that they were criminally negligent in not securing their building, and as a result two families lost loved ones and the city lost two dedicated firefighters," Torres told the Tribune Wednesday.
Gene Murphy, an attorney for the building owners, told CBS Chicago that Alvarez cannot prove her case.
Stringers' children also have a pending civil lawsuit against the Dais, as Fox Chicago reported.
The Dais' building formerly housed Banner Laundromat and Dry Cleaners before it went out of business and the building fell into disrepair.
WATCH a report on the charge filed against Dai: