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Last updated on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
(TINLEY PARK, ILL.) - Five Indiana men have been charged with felony mob action, aggravated battery and criminal damage to property for their roles in an attack Saturday on a group dining at a Tinley Park Illinois restaurant.
Bails ranging from $175,000 to $250,000 were set for the five men at the Bridgeview courthouse.
Charged were 26-year-old John Tucker, of Martinsville; 23-year-old Cody Sutherlin and 22-year-old Alex Stuck, both of Bloomington and 20-year-old Dylan Sutherlin and 33-year-old Jason Sutherlin both of Gosport.
According to police, the men all wearing hooded jackets and obscuring their faces with scarves stormed into the restaurant armed with metal batons and hammers. Police say the men targeted a group of 20 diners, all of whom were out of state. Ten diners were hurt in the attack, and three of those were hospitalized.
The offenders fled in three vehicles.
One vehicle containing the five men was caught about five minutes later at 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue, about four miles from the restaurant.
Police found evidence in the vehicle, including two expandable batons, a knife, a pair of gloves and several dark-colored hooded sweatshirts, prosecutors said.
Law enforcement sources on Sunday said the victims' group was made up of white supremacists, and those who assaulted them were protestors attacking their beliefs.
Assistant state's attorney Mike Deno said the group belonged The Illinois European Heritage Association. That group claims to be associated with White News Now, and Storm Front, Deno said.
In court, the prosecutors said the defendants believe that group to be a white supremacist group.
Restaurant owner Mike Winston has said property damage repairs will cost $10,000 to $15,000.
The public defender asked for a "reasonable" bond for the five men, but Cook County Circuit Court Judge Terence B. Smith noted the attacks were unprovoked and the perpetrators wore masks.
More charges may be filed later, pending the investigation, prosecutors said.
Jason Sutherlin's bail was set at $250,000, and Cody Sutherlin's at $200,000. The other three all were set at $175,000. Jason Sutherlin had a previous felony conviction for a burglary charge, prosecutors said. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but eight years were suspended. Cody Sutherlin and Dylan Sutherlin each was charged with operating while intoxicated in Indiana, prosecutors said.
Their next court date is June 12.
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