Three men, all of whom appeared Friday in Rock Island County Court, also are suspects in an earlier fire, a prosecutor said Friday in court.

Supporters of William Kosgard IV, Kadon Svec and Matthew Wooddell were in the courtroom where each suspect appeared before a judge, who made the decision to detain all three in jail before their next court appearances.

Each man, appearing in the courtroom via a remote screen, said he understood the charges of arson, criminal damage to property and animal torture. While he judge read the charges, he said the fire caused a cow to be burned alive after the blaze at the Rock Island Livestock Auction Barn.

A prosecutor said the three also are being investigated in connection with a fire Feb. 21 involving more than 200 railroad ties. She said the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) is involved in that case.

She said surveillance video shows three men walking toward hay bales and hovering around them just before the fire started.

Robert Westphal, who was in the courtroom during the proceedings, spoke briefly to the judge, saying he worked at the sale barn for 45 years. He said the blaze threatened firefighters and residents in the area, and “They need to be held accountable for that.”

The judge said the suspects are presumed innocent.

A destructive blaze

The fire on Feb. 24 led to the complete destruction of the buildings and the death of one of the cattle on the property. The Rock Island Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Rock Island Fire Marshal’s Office conducted an investigation, which resulted in three suspects being identified, officials said earlier.

An arson investigation into the fire by the Rock Island Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Rock Island Fire Marshal’s Office resulted in three suspects being identified. Arrest warrants were issued for Matthew E. Wooddell, 21; William T. Kosgard IV, 22; and Kadon J. Svec, 18; on March 4 for the charges of arson, felony criminal damage to property, and animal torture, according to a news release.