Naperville Community Television graphic
CHICAGO — An Aurora man was arrested last week on a federal civil disorder charge for allegedly throwing an explosive or incendiary device at a Naperville Police Department vehicle during a protest earlier this month, the FBI announced.
The man, Christian Rea, threw the explosive device in the proximity of the police vehicle, and the officers that were standing near the vehicle, which subsequently detonated causing an explosion, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Panic ensued in the crowd of protesters, with people running in all directions, the complaint states.
The complaint charges Rea, 19, with one count of civil unrest. Federal authorities arrested Rea Thursday morning. An initial federal court appearance was held on June 25, 2020, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth Jantz.
The complaint and arrest were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Naperville Police Department, the Aurora Police Department, and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas.
“Federal law enforcement will use all tools available to hold accountable individuals who interfere with law enforcement officers performing their duties during a civil disorder,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “We will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to apprehend and charge individuals engaging in violent crime.”
