Man Threatened To Shoot Muslim Women At Lake Opeka: Police

DES PLAINES, IL — A 44-year-old Des Plaines man faces six felony hate crime counts after allegedly threatening to shoot three Muslim women near the playground at Lake Opeka, according to police.

Matthew R. Kindle, of the 2000 block of Laura Lane, was arrested Sunday after officers responded around 5:17 p.m. to a report of an unwanted person at the park in the 2200 block of South Lee Street.

The women told officers Kindle repeatedly threatened to harm them and made derogatory remarks about their religion and origin. All three were wearing hijabs, according to the Des Plaines Police Department's crime report.

Police said Kindle told the women to leave the country and demanded that one woman remove her face covering.

One woman reported that Kindle approached her when she arrived, questioned why she was dressed as she was and stood between her and the park while waving his hands and swearing. She eventually walked around him and joined the other women.

Near the playground, Kindle repeatedly approached the group while reaching toward his waistband as though he had a weapon, according to the report. Police said he threatened to shoot the women and pointed his hand toward them as though holding a firearm.

A witness told officers he believed the women were in danger and stepped between them and Kindle. Kindle backed away but continued pacing, according to police.

When officers attempted to calm Kindle after he began shouting at another person, he became agitated and was taken into custody. Police said he stiffened and extended his arm to prevent officers from handcuffing him before being taken to the ground and arrested.

While detained, Kindle made remarks about "white power" and additional derogatory remarks about the women, according to the report.

The Cook County State’s Attorney's Office approved felony charges following a review of the incident. Kindle was charged with:

• Three felony counts of disorderly conduct/hate crime/public park.
• Three felony counts of aggravated assault/hate crime/public park.
• Three misdemeanor counts of aggravated assault.
• Three misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct.
• One misdemeanor count of resisting a peace officer.

Kindle was brought to a Cook County courthouse for a detention hearing.

The charges are accusations, and Kindle is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.