Law enforcement agencies has announced the arrest of a Galesburg, Illinois man who is accused of distributing explosive devices in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Chicago, Illinois. Matthew Rupert was arrested by the Chicago Police Department on Sunday after breaking that city’s curfew. A search of his Facebook page showed that he encouraged rioters to burn buildings and to attack police officers.
He was charged with “with civil disorder, carrying on a riot and possession of unregistered destructive devices, according to a federal complaint filed Monday in the U.S. District Court. On Friday he posted a video in which showed himself handing out explosive devices in a two hour long video.
Rupert said:
“They got SWAT trucks up there. I’ve got some bombs if some of you all want to throw them back…bomb them back. Light that b***h and throw it at them.”
He then congratulates another rioter for a direct hit: “He’s throwing my bombs,” Rupert allegedly says. “Good shot my boy.”
Officials say Rupert is responsible for firebombing at least one Sprint store and looting an Office Depot.
After he was finished in Minneapolis, Rupert allegedly hit Chicago on his way back to his Galesburg home.
“On Saturday, Rupert posted on Facebook that he was traveling to Chicago to ‘loot until 2:30,’ according to the complaint. Early Sunday morning, he posted more videos showing him in Chicago, saying, ‘Let’s start a riot’ and ‘I am going to do some damage,’” per CBS.
The complaint then alleges that Rupert was “seen on video” in downtown Chicago around midnight looting a local convenience store. He was eventually arrested around 2 am “for violating Chicago’s emergency curfew order. Law enforcement officers searched Rupert’s vehicle and recovered several destructive devices, a hammer, a heavy-duty flashlight, and cash.”
Rupert was arraigned on Monday in Chicago and ordered back to Minneapolis.