Plainfield Man Pushed Boy, 9, Called Him Racial Slur In Naperville: Cops

NAPERVILLE, IL — A Plainfield man was charged with a felony hate crime after police say he called a 9-year-old boy, who is Black, a racial slur. Jeffrey Feigenbaum, 29, is also accused of pushing the boy and throwing his bicycle.

In addition to the felony hate crime charge, Feigenbaum, of the 15800 block of Cove Circle, was charged with misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct.

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Police were called to the 1400 block of West Jefferson Avenue on June 13 for a report of a disturbance. According to police, the victim came to the home Feigenbaum was at and knocked on the door after a girl, identified as the child of Feigenbaum's girlfriend, damaged a fort the boy had been building.

Feigenbaum is accused of coming out of the home, calling the child the racial slur, shoving him and throwing his bike. Police say the boy fled Feigenbaum.

The allegations against Mr. Feigenbaum are very disturbing,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release.

Berlin added, “Hate crimes have no place in a civilized society. DuPage County is comprised of dozens of extremely welcoming and diverse communities and the type of behavior alleged in this case will not be tolerated. I thank the Naperville Police Department for their help in securing charges against Mr. Feigenbaum."

Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres said, “Every person in our community has the right to live free from intimidation, violence, and hate. Conduct involving threats, physical aggression, and racial slurs directed at a child is completely unacceptable and stands in direct opposition to the values we expect and uphold in Naperville."

Feigenbaum was granted pretrial release under the conditions that he wear a GPS monitoring device, surrender all firearms and ammunition and remain 5,000 feet or more from the victim's home and school.

Feigenbaum is set to appear in court on July 13.